Mofokeng’s Wonder Goal Powers Pirates Past Gallants
Relebohile Mofokeng produced one of the goals of the season as he danced through a cluster of Marumo Gallants defenders before sealing a 3-0 victory for Orlando Pirates at a packed Orlando Amstel Arena in the Betway Premiership on Saturday.
With Gallants retreating inside their own box and failing to close him down, the talented attacker showed superb composure, flicking the ball past goalkeeper Washington Arubi to net Pirates’ third goal of the afternoon.
The comfortable win lifted Pirates to 38 points from 16 matches, moving them six points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.
Pirates and Sundowns are set to meet in a blockbuster midweek showdown at FNB Stadium in a clash that could have a major impact on the Betway Premiership title race.
Their clash at Orlando Amstel Arena was delayed by 15 minutes due to inclement weather, with kick-off moving from 15:30 to 15:45.
Despite the late start, Pirates began the match on the front foot, creating numerous scoring opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.
Their early pressure paid off in the fourth minute when Yanela Mbuthuma found the back of the net with a right-footed strike from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner, following a well-worked assist from Relebohile Mofokeng.
The Buccaneers maintained their impressive attacking display and were rewarded with a second goal in the 28th minute.
Patrick Maswanganyi unleashed a left-footed effort from outside the box, which took a deflection off Gallants defender Agnikoi Eroine on its way in.
Pirates came close to extending their lead in the 37th minute after Maswanganyi dribbled past Gallants’ defenders inside the box, but the opportunity went to waste as neither he nor Mbuthuma could apply the finishing touch.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa nearly pulled one back, but Pirates were saved by a crucial clearance from Lebone Seema, ensuring the first half ended 2-0 in favour of the Buccaneers.
In the second half, both the Buccaneers and Bahlabane Ba Ntwa started the opening 15 minutes on a positive note, creating several chances, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.
In the 67th minute, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa came close to scoring from a free kick, but the Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine produced a brilliant save to deny the visitors.
Just a minute after Gallants’ opportunity, Oswin Appollis nearly added a third goal for the Buccaneers, but his right-footed effort from inside the box – set up by Tshepang Moremi – sailed over the crossbar.
Gallants earned another free kick in the 75th minute in a dangerous position near the 18-yard area, but Jaisen Clifford’s right-footed attempt went over the bar.
In the closing stages of the match, the Buccaneers finally got their third goal when Mofokeng beat four Gallants defenders before finishing with his right foot from inside the box to make it 3–0.
It marked the third consecutive time Mofokeng has scored for the Buccaneers in the Betway Premiership, having also found the net in their previous two matches against Magesi and AmaZulu.
After Mofokeng’s goal, both teams continued to play with intent and created more scoring opportunities, but there were no further goals as the match ended 3–0 in favour of the Buccaneers.
With this victory, Pirates opened a six-point lead over Sundowns at the top of the table, before these two sides meet at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
Both sides will head into the encounter in high spirits – Sundowns secured a 2-0 victory against MC Alger on Saturday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League.
