Pirates shoot down Arrows

The Pirates were presented with the most chances, but Arrows keeper Maxamilian Mbaeva made it difficult for them to convert. Photo: Samuel Shivambu

The Pirates were presented with the most chances, but Arrows keeper Maxamilian Mbaeva made it difficult for them to convert. Photo: Samuel Shivambu

Published Oct 23, 2016

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Johannesburg – It was always going to be difficult for Lamontville Golden Arrows to come out with a win in this one.

Orlando Pirates had a slight psychological advantage over them. They had beaten them before, 3-1 in their first league game of the season.

But Abafana Bes’thende were able to move on from that, producing four wins and a draw in their previous league matches. But in this encounter they were brought down to earth again.

They were made to remember what’s it like to lose again. Coach Clinton Larsen and his charges had failed to progress to the next round of the Telkom Knockout, following a defeat to Pirates.

About an hour before kick-off, Larsen stood alongside his assistant Mandla Ncikazi inside the centre-circle of the pitch as their team prepared for their warm-up session. The two were deep conversation, as if trying to figure out where they had gone wrong in their last visit here.

In that match, Arrows failed to keep quiet Pirates’ attacking third which kept them busy throughout that day. That formidable side consisted of the likes of Oupa Manyisa, Mpho Makola and Tendai Ndoro who were also present in this clash.

But again, the Arrow coach failed. His team could not keep up with the pace of game. Pirates forced them to play deep, while enjoying most of the freedom moving forward.

The home side created most of goal scoring opportunities early on in the game but it was their finishing inside the box which let them down. Mpho Makola, however, was soon to rectify all that, as he unleashed a powerful shot outside the box in the 10th minute to give his side the needed lead. Luvuyo Memela could have made it 2-0 just five minutes before the opener, however, fluffed the opportunity as he was dispossessed inside the area. Tendai Ndoro, who had unleashed the player with a superb pass, bellowed with frustrations wondering why he failed to punish the opposition.

The second period turned out to be a balanced affair as both sides took turns in pushing to outwit one another in the attacking third. Pirates were the ones who were presented with most chances, however, were unable to convert as Maxamilian Mbaeva proved a difficult figure to deal with against them between the sticks.

Abafana Bes’thende pulled one back in the 61 minute with a cracker of a setpiece form Wayde Jooster, following a foul committed by Happy Jele on Mauricio Barrios on the edge of the box.

That goal, however, triggered a sense of urgency and aggression from a Pirates side who understood that the Telkom Knockout might be their only chance at silver to celebrate their upcoming 80th anniversary next year.

That thought alone inspired Memela to produce a solo run which saw him surge through the opposition like a hot knife through butter from the half-way line, to beat the opposition ’keeper with a well taken shot.

Mbaeva stood no chance.

 

Orlando Stadium

Orlando Pirates.(1) 2

Makola 10, Memela 73

Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 1

Jooster 61

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