Orlando Pirates defeated Chippa United for the second time in four days when they racked up a 2-0 win in a DStv Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
A first-half brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa (which took him top of the league’s scoring charts with 15 goals) saw the Buccaneers overcome the Chilli Boys – just as they did in a Nedbank Cup semifinal this past Saturday.
And the result, a seventh successive win across all competitions, is a boost in the Soweto side’s race to finish in second place. They remain in third spot, but have closed to within a point of Stellenbosch FC, who could only draw 0-0 with AmaZulu in a concurrent match in the Western Cape.
Chippa, meanwhile, drop to 11th place on the log after a fourth successive loss across all competitions.
After a quiet opening quarter hour, Pirates created the first clear chance on 17 minutes when a fine pass through the lines from Patrick Maswanganyi put Thabiso Monyane free down the right of the penalty area, but his attempt at a shot was sliced well wide of the mark.
The hosts kept up their attacking intent and Maswanganyi again put Monyane in behind the defence on 36 minutes – this time the wingback fired in a low cross that was easily turned home at close range by Tshegofatso Mabasa to make it 1-0.
On 41 minutes Pirates earned a penalty when Innocent Maela’s cross clearly struck the hand of Baraka Majogoro. Mabasa coolly sent his shot from 12 yards into the bottom corner to double his side’s advantage.
Chippa had a fine chance to get back in the game just before halftime when Elmo Kambindu got between two defenders to meet a free kick in full flight, but his header failed to find the target.
Pirates made one change at the start of the second half, introducing Miguel Timm into midfield. Chippa opted for two substitutions, sending on Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Aviwe Mqokozo, and they were quickly forced into a third when Kambindu pulled up and was replaced by Ronaldo Maarman.
Neither side made any major chances to alter the score line through the second half, though Chippa did enjoy a couple of spells of pressure in the final quarter hour – with Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine called on to make a couple of notable interventions to ensure a clean sheet.
The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action this weekend, with Pirates hosting Richards Bay on Saturday 11 May, while Chippa will be away to Golden Arrows on Sunday 12 May.
Orlando Pirates (2) 2 (Mabasa 36’, 42’ pen)
Chippa United 0
Pirates: Chaine, Monyane, Xoki, Sesane (Ndah 72’), Maela, Makhaula (Timm 46’), Mbatha, Dlamini (Kapinga 72’), Mofokeng (Otladisa 89’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa (Makgopa 83’)
Chippa: Nwabali, Kammies, Makhele, Chabalala, Ntsabo, Majogoro (Pietersen 77’), Poggenpoel, Francis (Ndwandwe 68’), Kwayiba (Mqokozo 46’), Luthuli (Mahlatsi 46’), Kambindu (Maarman 48’)
