Efficient Pirates dispatch Kruger in resounding fashion

Reigning Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates continued their fine start to the season by claiming their third win on the spin this week, following an emphatic 4-0 victory over Kruger United at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night, which left the latter slumping to their third consecutive defeat.

With Oswin Appollis pulling all the strings in the middle of the park, the Bucs star noted two assists, while Ghampani Lungu, Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma got their names on the scoresheet in the Mpumalanga province.

Pirates got the game off to a flyer and were awarded with a penalty in the second minute of the match after Kamogelo Sebelebele drew a foul inside the area from Kruger United’s Katlego Mohamme. Lungu made no mistake from the spot as he sent the keeper diving the wrong way with a shot toward the bottom right corner.

Despite conceding early on, Kruger swiftly got back into the game and starved Pirates of the ball during lengthy periods of the first-half. Reduced to hitting Kruger on the break, Pirates battled to create any notable scoring chances leading up to the 30th minute mark.

In what was a nervy half for Pirates overall, Kruger watched a headed attempt being cleared off the line from Aphiwe Mphothe, who got on the end of a deep cross inside the area. Sipho Chaine was summoned into action during the closing stages of the half after Ebrahim Seedat found Zwane inside the box with a telling cross from the left flank, with the latter’s shot striking the upright from the near post.

Pirates doubled their lead early into the second-half with Radiopane getting his name on the scoresheet for the second game running. After a quick passing move toward the Kruger area, Oswin Appollis picked out the striker with an accurate through ball who subsequently shrugged off his opposite marker before slotting the ball home calmly.

While Kruger saw most of the ball in the first-half, Pirates looked the more dangerous outfit in the second and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions through missed attempts by Appollis.

The Soweto giants added a third in the 78th minute following yet another incisive transition move going forward. Led by a spirited Appollis, the Bucs midfielder grabbed another assist by squaring the ball to Mbuthuma inside the 18-yard-area, who finished from close range.

While Kruger were wasteful going in attack, Mbuthuma closed the show with a classy effort deep into stoppage time as Pirates hit the four-goal mark for the first time this season. In yet another swift break, second-half substitute Mbuthuma found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper before he lobbed an effort to complete his brace.

Orlando Pirates: (1) 4 (Lungu 3’, Radiopane 54’, Mbuthuma 79’ 92’)

KRUGER UNITED: Ntwari, Seedat, Mohamme, Sibiya, Mukumela, Tavengwa, Nel (Makhubu 81’), Malatjie, Makhubela (Sibanyoni 67’), Mphothe (Ndlovu 58’), Zwane (Matima 67’)

ORLANDO PIRATES: Chaine, Sebelebele, Seema, Zulu, Ndaba (Rapoo 85’), Mthiyane, Dansin (Selepe 62’), Mokobodi, Lungu (Appollis 13’), Moremi, Radiopane (Mbuthuma 62’)