Orlando Pirates pushed the out of sorts SuperSport United deeper into the relegation quagmire after beating them 1-0 in the Betway Premiership at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday night.
Pirates have already secured the number two spot on the league table, and they cannot be overtaken after registering enough points to confirm a place in next season’s CAF Champions League. It was also an opportunity to try out new players and young Siyabonga Dladla was given a chance to start ahead of first choice goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
The win was just to boost their confidence after a rather lukewarm ending to what was a very promising season. Under the departed coach Jose Riveiro, Bucs had established themselves as a major threat and had positioned themselves to win the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Champions League – but they bombed out spectacularly in the semi-finals of both competitions.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori needed the three points more than Bucs, but they allowed an ordinary Pirates outfit to push them further into the danger zone. United, who are led by interim coach Andre Arendse, will now have to register points in their last two remaining matches.
Together with fellow strugglers Cape Town City, they will be fighting to avoid the relegation/play-offs spot if they finish 15th on the league table. A plus for United is that their fate remains in their own hands and will have to beat Richards Bay and finish off Golden Arrows in the match that was called off due to floodlights failure at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in February.
Pirates’ solitary goal was scored by the red-hot Mohau Nkota with one of his trademark stunners after 71 minutes. The dribbling wizard received an intelligent pass from the left of the United defence and after cutting inside, he curled the ball beyond the reach of the United goalkeeper Thakazani Mbanjwa. Pirates skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi was rewarded with the Man of the Match accolade for a good showing at the back.
