Pirates stroll back to winning ways against outclassed Magesi

Orlando Pirates bounced back to winning ways winning ways with a convincing 2-0 victory over bottom-placed Magesi FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday night.

The result saw Pirates regain their second spot from Kaizer Chiefs and they are now tied on 32 points with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but they have a game in hand over the Brazilians. Magesi remained bottom of the log with 11 points after 15 games.

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With their home ground Orlando Stadium having undergone a revamp and given a new name, the Buccaneers made sure that they grab maximum points at their ‘new’ venue.

The fans who filled the stadium to capacity were treated to some entertaining football and goals,

It took the Buccaneers less than 10 minutes to find the back of the net as Yanela Mbuthuma finished off a good move in the ninth minute to beat Elvis Chipezeze with a powerful shot inside the box. Relebohile Mofokeng then doubled their lead just before the half-time break.

Having not made the matchday squad in the previous game against Sekhukhune United, new recruits Andre De Jong, Daniel Msendami and Mpho Chabatsane made the bench this time around. But only De Jong and Msendami made their debuts coming on for Mbuthuma and Moremi respectively. Chabatsane was an unused substitute.

On the side of Magesi, there was a bit of confusion as to what was happening with coach John Maduka who did not sit on the bench.

Word coming out of the club suggested that Maduka was not suspended and was “somewhere at the venue giving instructions” to Abram Nteo who led the side on the day. No reason was given as to why he was not sitting on the bench. Maduka, however, was spotted sitting amongst the fans and was not giving any instructions.

If it was a strategy, it didn’t work as Pirates dominated the match from start to finish and should have won the match with an avalanche of goals, but Chipezeze made sure that the loss was a respectable one.

Chipezeze denied Mbuthuma his brace in the 25^th minute when he pulled off a good save to save his goalbound header in the 25^th minute.

The Buccaneers, however, were not to be denied their second goal though as Relebohile Mofokeng beat Chipezeze with a powerful long range shot to make sure that the home side take a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.

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Pirates continued to dominate possession in the second half, with the visitors applying a low block and trying to catch their hosts on the counter attack.

But despite their dominance in the second half, the Buccaneers were unable to add to their first half goals.