Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Orlando Pirates defeated Maritzburg United 2-0 in an Absa Premiership game at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.
As a result Bucs ended their 12-match winless run in the league and moved up to ninth on the log, while the Team of Choice stay eighth.
It took 13 minutes for the home side to take the lead after the Team of Choice players were caught napping while defending a corner-kick.
Bucs captain Oupa Manyisa whipped in a corner-kick into the Maritzburg box and towering centre back Ayanda Gcaba headed home to make it 1-0 to Pirates.
The Team of Choice should have levelled matters in the 35th minute, but Bandile Shandu was denied by Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane from close range.
In the 45th minute, Lebohang Maboe, the Maritzburg midfielder, saw his long-range shot saved by Mpontshane, who ensured that the first-half ended with Pirates leading 1-0.
Maritzburg keeper Vrigil Vries was called into action just seven minutes into the second-half gathering Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro's curling effort with ease.
Although, Maritzburg centre back Brian Onyango was red carded on the hour-mark, the visitors continued to attack in search of the equalizing goal.
Happy Jele, the Pirates defender, made a great challenge in the 70th minute blocking Maritzburg midfielder Deolin Mekoa's goal-bound shot.
A quick counter-attack in the 79th minute saw Ndoro setting up second-half substitute Dove Wome, who beat Vries from close range to make it 2-0 to Pirates.
But Maritzburg midfielder Mekoa was also sent off in the 83rd minute and the visitors were reduced to nine men and ultimately, the match ended 2-0 in favour of Pirates.
