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The Buccaneers were worthy winners, though they needed a late penalty from Isaac Chansa to secure the three points after an admirable rearguard effort from AmaZayoni very nearly earned the home team a share of the spoils.
The victory, Pirates’ fifth in a row, kept up their advantage at the top of the table on a weekend in which fellow title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town claimed good victories, while also further lengthening the odds of Aces avoiding relegation from the top flight.
Both sides made three changes from their midweek line-ups. Aces handed starts to no less than four former Pirates players – Joseph Makhanya, Benedict Vilakazi, Francis Chansa and Dennis Masina – while Buti Sithole replaced the suspended Thabang Rooi in defence.
The visitors’ three changes saw Andile Jali replace Clifford Ngobeni in midfield, club captain Lucky Lekgwathi returned the backline in the stead of Robyn Johannes, while Botswana winger Phenyo Mongala was handed a rare start due to a minor injury worry for the in-form Tlou Segolela.
From the first whistle it was clear that Aces’ plan was to flood the midfield in order to frustrate Pirates. The hosts played with just one genuine striker, Phikolethu Spelman, and three centre backs, while the remainder of their outfield players looked to clog up the middle of the park.
AmaZayoni’s plan worked well for the first 20 minutes or so, but Bucs gradually began to find some space in wide positions and started to put the home side’s defence under pressure. On 23 minutes a good cutback from Happy Jele handed Isaac Chansa a shooting chance just inside the box but he ballooned his effort high and wide.
Jele himself was handed a chance ten minutes later when he latched onto a loose ball in the Aces penalty area, but Fabian McCarthy made a good block to stop the right-back’s goal-bound attempt.
On 40 minutes Francis Chansa was called upon to make a fine save, tipping Thulasizwe Mbuyane’s flick-on over his crossbar as Pirates continued to look the likelier of the two teams to break the deadlock.
Aces made a change at the break, with Manqoba Ngwenya replacing Phikolethu Spelman, but the former Wits and Sundowns player lasted just a few minutes before his right ankle gave way in an awkward fall from an aerial challenge. He tried to run off the injury but was soon replaced my Mpho Maleka.
Just before the hour mark a Pirates corner kick saw Jele almost score with a glancing header – the defender’s effort had the beating of Francis Chansa but David Mathebula cleared the ball off the goal line at the far post.
Bucs continued to dominate proceedings but they were repeatedly frustrated by some good defending from the home team. The visitors were inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 83rd minute when Isaac Chansa rattled the crossbar from a free kick.
But just a minute later they finally got the break their dominance deserved. Fabian McCarthy clumsily tripped up substitute Bongane Ndulula and referee Jerome Damon pointed to the penalty spot.
Benedict Vilakazi vociferously protested the decision – and earned his marching orders for a second bookable offence – but television replays suggested Damon was correct in awarding the spot kick.
Isaac Chansa took on the responsibility of the penalty and beat his namesake in Aces’ goal to secure a vital win for the Buccaneers.
Mpumalanga Black Aces 0
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Chansa 86’ pen)
Teams:
Aces: (3-6-1) Chansa; Eberle, McCarthy, Sithole; Madidilani, Makhanya (Tipa 83’), Mathebula, Vilakazi, Masina, Plaatjies; Spelman (Ngwenya 46’ (Maleka 53’)
Pirates: (4-4-2) Josephs; Jele, Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Cloete; Manyisa, Jali, Chansa, Mongala (Mayambela 46’); Mbuyane (Ndulula 81’), Mashego (Malokase 74’)
