A single goal from Sipho Jembula handed Polokwane City a surprise 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates in their Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The game was controlled largely by Pirates, but a resilient display in defence from the home side kept them at bay.
Still, the Buccaneers had plenty of chances to find the back of the net, but bad decision making in the final third combined with poor finishing cost them on the day.
The opening half was largely congested in the middle of the park with the Polokwane players giving the Pirates attackers very little time on the ball.
Still, the Buccaneer were able to fashion chances almost at will in the opening 20 minutes.
In the sixth minute Lucky Lekgwathi was afforded a free header at a corner-kick but pushed his effort over the target.
In the 12th minute Kermit Erasmus blazed wide from 25 yards out.
Thabo Matlaba saw himself in space and on the end of a well-worked free-kick from the edge of the box, but he shot carelessly over the target from close range.
In the 18th minute Erasmus had another go at goal when he latched onto a goalmouth scramble inside the Polokwane box, but again he shot wide from 12-yards out.
Ten minutes later Polokwane took the lead very much against the run of play thanks to some determined work from Jembula.
Miscommunication between Matlaba and the buccaneers goalkeeper from a routnine ball over the top saw Jembula sneak in-between them and force the ball home form a few yards out, 1-0.
The second 45 progressed much the same as the first with Pirates in attack, throwing numbers forward in search of the equaliser and leaving themselves exposed at the back.
Polokwane nearly capitalised in the 60th minute when a break out saw Puleng Tlolane with just the keeper to beat, but his chipped effort over the onrushing Dauda went narrowly wide of the post.
Pirates did not create much in attack in the second 45 and were constantly thwarted by the Polokwane defence.
The game ended 1-0 in favour of the minnows who picked up a very valuable three points.
Polokwane City (1) 1 (Jembula 28’)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
Polokwane: Marumo, Molekwane, Mngqibisa, Mahlakoane, Lichaba, Sibande, Moyana (Maxwell 84’), Jembula (Rakhale 80’), Maluleke, Kanyenda (Nzimande 89’), Tlolane.
Pirates: Dauda, Lekgwathi, Matlaba, Jele, Gcaba, Ngoma (Malongoane 58’), Masuku (Myeni 81), Manyisa, Ntshumayelo, Bacela (Pelembe 62’), Erasmus. – Backpage Media