Johannesburg – They may not have scored in open play, but there were several positives for Orlando Pirates to take from their 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Platinum Stars in the Bokone Bophirima Maize Cup at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday.
For new head coach Muhsin Ertugral, who saw his side beaten by Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Black Label Cup two weeks back, it was a morale-boosting win 10 days ahead of the official season’s kick-off.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Felipe Ovono, who had looked set to leave the club after battling for game-time last season, was the hero of the day for the Buccaneers, coming off the bench in the second half to replace Jackson Mabokgwane and then going on to save two penalties.
This after the Equatorial Guinea keeper had found recently himself relegated to training with the club’s development team, only to be recalled to the first team ahead on the trip to Rustenburg this week, Ovono’s efforts in the shoot-out giving Ertugral more food for thought in the goalkeeping department.
The Turkish-born coach would surely have liked to have seen a goal or two inside the 90 minutes, although to be fair to Pirates, on another day they may have had the ball in the net several times, but were denied by some last-gasp defending by Cavin Johnson’s Dikwena side.
The first half took a while to warm up, with Stars going on to have the better chances, Ndumiso Mabena coming close to scoring against his former employers a couple of times.
Pirates upped the ante as the game moved past the hour mark and looked set to take the lead when Thabo Matlaba raced in on goal, only for Dikwena keeper Mbongeni Mzimela to make a superb stop.
Thabo Rakhale then had an effort cleared off the line before Luvuyo Memela was denied by another great save from Mzimela as the Sea Robbers further increased the pressure on the hosts in the closing moments of the game.
The penalty shoot-out saw Ovono keeping out Mabena and Sphamandla Mlilo’s spot kicks, while Siyabonga Zulu missed the target. Oupa Manyisa, Patrick Phungwayo and Ayanda Nkosi all netted for Pirates to ensure the win.
Another 90 minutes under the belt for Manyisa, who missed nearly the whole of last season through injury, was another positive for Ertugral, who also gave a debut to right-back Thembela Sikhakhane, signed from Arrows this week.
Bucs begin their league campaign on August 24 when they host Arrows at the Orlando Stadium.
– ANA