Orlando Pirates Reserves were victorious in their DStv Diski Challenge clash against Chippa United, winning 1-0 in the game played at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
It was a return to winning ways for the Bucs Reserves who began the weekend in third position with just four games left in the ongoing campaign.
They enjoyed all of the game’s early opportunities, mainly attacking from the flanks where forward Ciniso Mazibuko was especially prominent on the right. The teenager was first to fire a shot at goal, drawing a save from goalkeeper Tyrique Simons who went low to his left to cover his near post.
The resultant corner presented another opportunity as defender Mbekezile Mbokazi headed over the crossbar when he was pinpointed by Jabulani Mokone.
It remained one-way traffic throughout the opening 20 minutes with Mazibuko forcing Simons into another stop in the 17th minute after cutting inside from the right to fire at goal from outside the box.
Midfielder Tebogo Masemola could only hit the side netting with his attempt in the 29th minute, while clear-cut chances came few and far between throughout the closing third of the opening period. This was until the stroke of halftime when Mokone delivered an excellent cutback toward an unmarked Simphiwe Masilela who was unable to keep his shot down as he fired over the crossbar.
Pirates began the second half much like they started the first with striker Mehluleli Maphumulo getting a shot in just two minutes after the restart, only to be denied by Simons.
The burly Bucs forward continued to trouble the defence, but could not find a way past the Chilli Boys shot stopper who pulled off a brilliant double stop in the 51st minute to keep things level.
Chippa’s first real chance came through Thando Jacobs who shot wide when presented with a golden opportunity to put his side ahead from close range.
Pirates made the most of the let off as they took the lead just after the hour mark through Mazibuko, who finally had the better of Simons when he made an excellent run on the flank before sneaking the ball inside the near post to make it 1-0.
He remained heavily involved on attack, linking up with Masilela whose 74th minute shot was kept out by Simons, with skipper Kgwadi Molepo sending in a follow-up shot which was deflected narrowly wide of the target.
The visitors could have stolen a point deep in injury time when Sinakokonke Mthembu headed at goal from just in front, but Bucs keeper Khumoetsile Rathokolo was perfectly-positioned to make a comfortable save.
That concluded the goalmouth action at either end as the Bucs Reserves saw out the game to complete a league double over the Eastern Cape-based side.
Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Magugwana, Mbokazi, Mokone, Mhlambi (Mohlala 81’), Molepo, Selepe (Chibwe 77’), Masemola (Dansin 77’), Mazibuko, Masilela (Nzimande 77’), Maphumulo.
