Johannesburg – A four-goal second-half assault from Orlando Pirates dispatched Chippa United 4-1 in their Premiership match at Orlando Stadium, on Tuesday evening.
After the sides went into the break goalless, the half-time talk delivered by Pirates coach Eric Tinkler did the trick as his charges went on the rampage. The hosts also had two goals disallowed on the night, as their goalscoring woes seem to be ancient history.
The first real chance of the contest fell to Pirates in the 10th minute. Kermit Erasmus on the edge of the box decided to unleash a rasping effort which was punched away by Chippa keeper Daylan Hawes.
Issa Sarr put the ball in the back of the net on the quarter hour mark, but the goal was disallowed as the player was adjudged to have scored from an offside position.
In the 27th minute, Chippa produced a speculative effort when Philani Shange reeled off a shot from range but his attempt was sprayed well wide of the target.
Five minutes after the interval, Pirates had a second goal disallowed. A free kick was sent into the box and Siyabonga Sangweni nudged the ball over the line, but his run was also ruled offside.
In the 54th minute, Pirates finally had their opener from a setpiece. Sifiso Myeni sent the ball into the area from a corner and Ayanda Gcaba’s free header was directed expertly past the Chippa keeper to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
In the 66th minute, Chippa were reduced to 10 men. Ugonna Uzochukwu received his second yellow card for a challenge on Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza and the referee had no option but to give the player his marching orders.
Pirates did not take long to convert their player advantage into a goal with the second score of the half in the 69th minute. Erasmus put pressure on the Chippa defence with a powerful header which was saved, but a goalmouth scramble ensued before the ball was deflected over the line by Hawes for an own-goal to make it 2-0 to Pirates.
Chippa pulled a goal back in the 75th minute, with a well-timed run by Buyani Sali into the box before he unleashed a powerful strike to make it 2-1.
Pirates added a third in the 85th with a stunner from Mpho Makola, when he unleashed a rocket from 30 metres out to put Pirates 3-1 ahead.
Makola completed his brace in injury time to complete the 4-1 scoreline with another superb strike from way out, this time picking his spot just wide of the despairing dive put in by Hawes.
ANA