Oswin Appollis of Orlando Pirates celebrates as his side scored three goals against Magesi in a Betway Premiership match at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Image: BackpagePix
Magesi (0) 0
Orlando Pirates (2) 3
Maswanganyi 8’, Sebelebele 22’, Appollis 60’
Orlando Pirates ensured that their Betway Premiership fate remained firmly in their own hands after beating Magesi 3-0 at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night, handling the pressure that Mamelodi Sundowns had applied earlier in the day.
Pirates are second on the log with 65 points, three behind Sundowns, who have played one game more, but trail on an inferior seven-goal difference. As such, if Pirates win their final two matches of the season, against Durban City next Saturday and Orbit College on May 23, they are all but guaranteed the league title for the first time in 14 years.
The Buccaneers were further pleased with the victory as Sipho Chaine wrote his name into the history books, becoming the first goalkeeper in the PSL era to keep 19 clean sheets in a single league season.
Sundowns are not surrendering their ninth successive title without a fight. Earlier in the day, they thrashed Siwelele 7-4 in their penultimate league fixture before preparing to face TS Galaxy in Mbombela on Tuesday night.
Despite heading into the match on the back of Sundowns’ emphatic victory, Pirates knew their destiny remained in their own hands. They showed exactly that here, scoring twice in the opening 30 minutes before comfortably sealing a 3-0 win.
Magesi, meanwhile, look set for automatic relegation this season as they remain rooted to the bottom of the standings with 21 points. With only two matches remaining, their survival hopes are no longer in their own hands.
Pirates did not underestimate the challenge, with coach Abdeslam Ouaddou making just one change to the side that beat Stellenbosch away, as Deon Hotto started ahead of Nkosikhona Ndaba at left-back.
Magesi, meanwhile, made eight changes, including in goal, where Mbali Tshabalala replaced the reportedly ill captain and first-choice goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
The hosts’ goalkeeping change mattered little as Patrick Maswanganyi, who has cemented his place in the starting line-up after replacing Tshepang Moremi, continued his rich vein of form.
Maswanganyi scored his second goal in as many matches after reacting quickest to a loose ball from Evidence Makgopa before evading his markers and slotting past the advancing Tshabalala.
Pirates continued to pile pressure on Magesi, attacking with width and direct play through the middle. Their dominance was rewarded again when Kabelo Sebelebele tapped home a rebound after Maswanganyi’s effort was weakly parried by the defence.
The Sea Robbers went into the break comfortably in control, but they knew they needed to maintain their intensity in the second half to further strengthen both their lead and goal difference advantage.
Hotto thought he had added a third goal when he finished from close range, but referee Thando Ndzandzeka ruled the strike out for offside, despite replays suggesting the Namibian had been onside when the pass was played.
Ndzandzeka eventually awarded Pirates a penalty after Sebelebele was pushed by Mzwandile Buthelezi inside the box. Oswin Appollis stepped up and calmly sent Tshabalala the wrong way to extend Pirates’ advantage.
Pirates comfortably saw out the remainder of the match, keeping both the pressure on Sundowns and their title dreams firmly alive.