Orlando Pirates kept the pressure on Mamelodi Sundowns after rallying late to defeat Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 in a Betway Premiership match at the the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Tuesday.
With only four players returning to the Pirates starting line-up from the weekend’s Soweto Derby, Pirates had to rely on the involvements of second half substitutes to claim all three points. The Buccaneers now sit nine points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand.
With another loss, Golden Arrows are just three points above Cape Town City and the relegation playoff zone.
Arrows started well and nearly found the opener in the 11th minute, as Nhlanhla Zwane had a free header from a corner, which he sent right of the post.
Another opportunity came in the 14th minute, but Nduduzo Sibiya could not get a touch to nudge the ball home from the middle of the box.
Abafana Bes’thende’s best chance of the half came in the 20th minute, as Pirates goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi rushed out and failed to clear the ball and was almost chipped by Siyanda Mthanti, trying to beat the defenders on the line, but missing the goal.
After an underwhelming first half, Pirates found the opener in the 51st minute after Kabelo Dlamini played a perfectly weighted ball for Patrick Maswanganyi, who kept his composure to round the rushing keeper and slot the ball into the back of the net.
Pirates nearly doubled their lead in the 58th minute, after substitute Simphiwe Selepe’s cross found Bandile Shandu, who could not connect cleanly with the ball to keep it on target.
Abafana Bes’thende struck back in the 59th minute to draw level as Velemseni Ndwandwe’s cross to Mthanti received a tidy first-time finish from close range.
Substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa fired Pirates back into the lead in the 72nd minute with a thumping volley into the roof of the net.
Mabasa nearly found a second in the 87th minute from a Dlamini corner, but his effort at the near post went over the bar.
Pirates will now turn their focus to the upcoming Nedbank Cup final where they will face Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Arrows will look to right their wrongs when they face Orlando Pirates again in their next Betway Premiership encounter on Tuesday at Orlando Stadium.
