Bucs sink United

Pietermaritzburg - An own goal seven minutes from time by veteran defender Fabian McCarthy helped Orlando Pirates plunder three points in a hard fought 2-1 win over Maritzburg United at a rain soaked Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

McCarthy, the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana player was unlucky to steer the ball into his own net.

Bucs striker Elena Otorugu helped the ball into the net but McCarthy was credited with the own goal.

Pirates go home happy with their title challenge enhanced and their morale boosted ahead of next Saturday’s Knockout final against their old enemies Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium without having any players injured or suspended.

For Maritzburg it is their second defeat against Pirates in five days and plunges them deeper into the relegation zone.

Bucs defeated United 3-1 in Durban last Sunday in the Knockout semi-final. Both coaches made changes from last Sunday’s starting line-up.

Significantly Pirates coach Ruud Krol with an eye on next Saturday’s Knockout final against Chiefs made four changes to the side that beat Maritzburg last Sunday.

Krol recalled former “golden boy” Teko Modise and Botswana international midfielder Phenyo Mongala plus his two defenders Happy Jele and captain Lucky Lekgwathi who were suspended for the cup clash.

It was midfielder Modise’s first start in over a month but he looked low on confidence and did not play with his usual spark.

Maritzburg keeper Shu-Aib Walters fumbled Mongala corner in the fourth minute but was fortunate that Pirates failed to punish the mistake.

But two minutes later Walters pulled off a great save when giant Nigerian Otorugu laid off a brilliant though ball to Thulasizwe Mbuyane but Walters was up to the challenge and denied Mbuyane with a classic save.

Bucs were in trouble in the 11th minute when their in-form keeper Moeneeb Josephs came to the rescue with a brilliant reflex save after his defender Robyn Johannes deflected Diyo Sibisi shot goalwards. But Josephs did well to palm the ball off his post and out of danger.

United who were getting the better of exchanges came close again in the 21stminute but Byrone Hendricks missed the target after he collected a pin point free kick from team mate Kurt Lentjies.

Johannes, who has been given a new lease of life since joining the Buccaneer from Mamelodi Sundowns in the off-season, put Bucs 1-0 ahead on the half hour mark when the United defence failed to clear a shot from Clifford Ngobeni and Johannes drilled home the ball from 20 metres to give Pirates their lead at the break.

Walters did well in the 41st minuet to fist a dangerous header from Otorugu over his crossbar for a corner to keep the home side in the game.

Maritzburg never stopped running and it was game-on in the 54th minute when the impressive Lentjies drove home a superbly stuck 20-metre free kick to make it 1-1. That goal seemed to inspire the home side.

A minute later Josephs pulled off a telling save from a powerfully hit left footed shot from Namibian star Rudolf Bester as the United had the stunned Pirates in all sorts of trouble.

But it was Walters who denied Pirates a goal with a save out of the top draw in the 67th minute as the United captain did brilliantly to deflect Mbuyane’s shot for a corner after the striker latched onto a clever through ball from Modise.

Then it was Josephs turn to be called into action in the 72nd minute when he diverted a well struck shot from Bester for a corner.

Maritzburg had a huge let-off in the 76th minute when super sub Tlou Segolela’s cross found Otorugu and the Nigerian thumped the ball against the woodwork.

The match flowed from end to end in poring rain. Bester missed a sitter when he headed wide from close range when it looked easier to score than miss.

But Pirates finished stronger and were rewarded when McCarthy steered the ball into his own net in the 83rd minute to help Bucs to a tense 2-1 win.

Meanwhile the PSL CEO Kjetil Siem announced on Friday the league had endorsed a concept of a professional refereeing structure.

Siem said he would be working closely with the SA Football Association and hoped to have professional referees in place for the PSL and National First Division by next season.