Orlando Pirates, fielding a much-changed side, kept their faint Betway Premiership title hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.

Substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa struck in the second half, firing past Edward Maova to secure the win for Pirates, who moved to 52 points after 23 matches. This result reduced their deficit to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to nine points, with Pirates still having a game in hand.

Pirates coach Jose Riveiro opted to leave out key player Relebohile Mofokeng, who was carrying three yellow cards. Mofokeng had scored in Pirates’ weekend victory over Kaizer Chiefs, and a booking in this midweek fixture would have ruled him out of the Nedbank Cup final against Chiefs at the same Durban venue on Saturday.

Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi set up his midfield to be compact, aiming to deny Pirates space to penetrate and threaten their defense. This appeared a sensible decision given Arrows’ recent form, having lost their previous two matches and being winless in four since defeating Chiefs at this Durban ground in March.

Mngqithi will be feeling the pressure as Arrows are now precariously positioned near the bottom of the table, lying 14th in the Betway Premiership with 26 points after 24 matches. Their saving grace is that they have games in hand, including the return fixture against Pirates at Orlando Stadium on 13 May.

Pirates, who were without the suspended duo of Thalente Mbatha and Nkosinathi Sibisi, handed a start to Patrick Maswanganyi, who had missed the Soweto Derby due to injury. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was also omitted entirely, with Melusi Buthelezi starting between the posts. It was evident that Pirates had one eye on Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final.

Despite the changes, Pirates started brightly, with Bandile Shandu and Kabelo Dlamini both firing wide in the early stages. However, Arrows had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 11th minute when Nhlanhla Zwane was left unmarked from a corner, but he headed his effort wide with the Pirates defense looking disorganized.

The home side built some momentum, and Siyanda Mthanti’s dangerous cross into the box required a touch from an Arrows player, forcing Pirates goalkeeper Buthelezi to scramble across his line to make a save.

Buthelezi then misjudged an easy free-kick, fumbling the collection, but Pirates escaped unpunished from Mthanti’s subsequent chip. Mthanti continued to cause problems, particularly for debutant Yanga Madiba, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi often coming to his teammate’s rescue.

It was clear that Riveiro’s alterations, with the final in mind, resulted in Pirates lacking cohesion and attacking impetus in the first half, allowing Arrows to press forward. On the stroke of half-time, Arrows continued to probe, and Mthanti latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Siphesihle Msomi but disappointingly scuffed his shot wide. A visibly unhappy Riveiro was the first to head into the tunnel after the half-time whistle.

Arrows’ first-half profligacy was punished by Pirates in the 51st minute. Maswanganyi latched onto Dlamini’s through ball, rounded goalkeeper Maova, and slotted the ball into the empty net. The Pirates fans erupted, chanting “We Tito, we Tito” in appreciation of Maswanganyi.

Pirates should have extended their lead in the 58th minute when substitute Simphiwe Selepe, who replaced Makhehleni Makhaula at the start of the second half, released Bandile Shandu. However, Shandu failed to hit the target, attempting an unsuccessful lob over the onrushing Maova.

Arrows found a deserved equaliser just a minute later when Mthanti’s first-time strike beat Buthelezi at the near post following a perfect pass from Velemseni Ndwandwe.

However, Mabasa restored Pirates’ lead in the 73rd minute, firing into the roof of the net after Arrows failed to clear the second phase of a free kick. Mabasa, the reigning PSL Golden Boot winner, had come on as a substitute for Boitumelo Radiopane. This highlighted Arrows’ recurring Achilles’ heel of failing to deal with the second phase of set plays, as was evident in their previous loss against Stellenbosch.

Despite the changes Pirates made, Karim Kimvuidi was a standout performer, surprisingly playing the entire game and maintaining a high level of performance in his first league start of the season.

He was deservedly named man of the match. Pirates now turn their full attention to their Nedbank Cup final clash against Chiefs at the same venue on Saturday, aiming to secure their third consecutive double trophy triumph.

Pic courtesy of Inja Ka MoyaSnaps