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Soweto - Mamelodi Sundowns ended Orlando Pirates’ hopes of successfully defending their Absa Premiership crown when they came out 1-0 winners at the Orlando Stadium, thanks to a stoppage time goal by Alje Schut.
Both teams were denied by the woodwork, but just when the game seemed destined for a draw, the Dutchman headed home a low ball to hand the Brazilians the win.
Even after their recent run of bad results of just one win in nine games, Roger de Sa’s men came into the match against Mamelodi Sundowns still in mathematical contention for the Absa Premiership title.
And with the Brazilians eager to finish in the top eight of the log, they were never going to make it an easy task for the Buccaneers.
It was evident when they created the first real attack in the game when Daine Klate kicked away Tebogo Langerman’s 11th minute shot from just outside the box, despite Senzo Meyiwa rushing off his line to punch it away.
Eight minutes later and it was Richard Henyekane’s turn to try his luck from range, but his 20-yard strike went well wide of the goals, causing no trouble for Pirates.
Then, in the 22nd minute, Wayne Sandilands pulled off a great save by denying Khethokwakhe Masuku’s 30-yard screamer, rounding it out at the near post.
Pirates then started to gain momentum and they were working some beautiful combination plays which saw Oupa Manyisa denied by the crossbar, just four minutes later.
The attacking player’s ball bounced off the goal frame to fall onto the goal-line and, to the relief of Sundowns, it moved away from the goal mouth, allowing for them to clear.
The Brazilians had to endure the same thing in the 41st minute, when Wayne Arendse’s header off Elias Pelembe’s corner kick rattled the crossbar after he did so well to rise above his marker.
Pirates had a chance straight after the restart when Collins Mbesuma worked his way into the box with the ball. The Zambian made a run to the byline but was well fended off by Arendse, who forced Mbesuma out wide and pushed the ball out for a corner kick.
A large portion of the second half fell into a lull as both sets of players looked to have run out of steam and ideas to get the goal.
And no team managed to break the deadlock until the 92nd minute when Alje Schut headed home a low ball into the back of the net, to seal a 1-0 win and increase their hopes of a top eight finish.
Orlando Pirates 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) (1) (Schut 92’)
Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa, Mahamutsa, Jele, Lekgwathi, Phungwayo, Masuku (Segolela 94), Manyisa, Klate (Makola 74’), Ntshumayelo, Okonkwo, Mbesuma (Mabena 77’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Sandilands, Langerman, Schut, Mphahlele, Mushekwi (Shongwe 56’), Henyekane (Mphela 79’), Kekana, Modise (Mwanjale 95), Sangweni, Pelembe, Arendse
Both teams were denied by the woodwork, but just when the game seemed destined for a draw, the Dutchman headed home a low ball to hand the Brazilians the win.
Even after their recent run of bad results of just one win in nine games, Roger de Sa’s men came into the match against Mamelodi Sundowns still in mathematical contention for the Absa Premiership title.
And with the Brazilians eager to finish in the top eight of the log, they were never going to make it an easy task for the Buccaneers.
It was evident when they created the first real attack in the game when Daine Klate kicked away Tebogo Langerman’s 11th minute shot from just outside the box, despite Senzo Meyiwa rushing off his line to punch it away.
Eight minutes later and it was Richard Henyekane’s turn to try his luck from range, but his 20-yard strike went well wide of the goals, causing no trouble for Pirates.
Then, in the 22nd minute, Wayne Sandilands pulled off a great save by denying Khethokwakhe Masuku’s 30-yard screamer, rounding it out at the near post.
Pirates then started to gain momentum and they were working some beautiful combination plays which saw Oupa Manyisa denied by the crossbar, just four minutes later.
The attacking player’s ball bounced off the goal frame to fall onto the goal-line and, to the relief of Sundowns, it moved away from the goal mouth, allowing for them to clear.
The Brazilians had to endure the same thing in the 41st minute, when Wayne Arendse’s header off Elias Pelembe’s corner kick rattled the crossbar after he did so well to rise above his marker.
Pirates had a chance straight after the restart when Collins Mbesuma worked his way into the box with the ball. The Zambian made a run to the byline but was well fended off by Arendse, who forced Mbesuma out wide and pushed the ball out for a corner kick.
A large portion of the second half fell into a lull as both sets of players looked to have run out of steam and ideas to get the goal.
And no team managed to break the deadlock until the 92nd minute when Alje Schut headed home a low ball into the back of the net, to seal a 1-0 win and increase their hopes of a top eight finish.
Orlando Pirates 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) (1) (Schut 92’)
Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa, Mahamutsa, Jele, Lekgwathi, Phungwayo, Masuku (Segolela 94), Manyisa, Klate (Makola 74’), Ntshumayelo, Okonkwo, Mbesuma (Mabena 77’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Sandilands, Langerman, Schut, Mphahlele, Mushekwi (Shongwe 56’), Henyekane (Mphela 79’), Kekana, Modise (Mwanjale 95), Sangweni, Pelembe, Arendse
