By Michael Madyira
Orlando Pirates bounced back to winning ways in the Premier Soccer League after edging Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Evidence Makgopa’s 68th-minute strike separated the two sides as the Buccaneers moved one up in the table to fourth spot.
They now have two points fewer than Cape Town City and SuperSport United who are in second and third place respectively.
It was a result they will cherish going back to Gauteng as they boosted their bid to claim a CAF Champions League berth.
January signing Thalente Mbata started his first PSL match for Pirates, stepping in for the suspended Miguel Timm.
The home side welcomed back Bafana Bafana starlet Oswin Appollis from suspension and he proved to be a major threat to the Buccaneers in the early stages of the contest.
He started with a curling effort that went just over the bar on 22 minutes.
Not long after, the Buccaneers thought they deserved a penalty after Manuel Kambala appeared to have handled inside the box but the referee waved play on.
Pirates were then frustrated when the upright denied Karim Kimvuidi in the 38th minute before Polokwane City’s goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga excellently tipped over a Relebohile Mofokeng shot two minutes before the half time break.
Both teams struggled for a breakthrough in the second half until Makgopa connected a free kick delivery from Deon Hotto.
Substitute Kabelo Dlamini almost doubled Pirates’ lead in stoppage time but his effort crashed against the woodwork.
It was a match the Buccaneers could have won by a wider margin as their hosts rarely troubled them.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula challenged by Polokwane City’s Given Mashikinya
Image source: Orlando Pirates
