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Erwin Isaacs of Santos FC, left celebrates scoring with Nasief Morris (Gallo Images)
Cape Town - It was a perfect evening for Santos at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night as they beat Orlando Pirates 3-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter.
The first half was a frustrating affair for the Soweto outfit as they found it hard to break down a determined home defence, who scored twice in the second half following a second minute goal from Erwin Isaacs which set the tone for the night.
Bucs were forced to spend most of the opening 45 minutes trying to conjure an equaliser, but to no avail, after Isaacs scored after 90 seconds.
The Santos flyer timed his run to perfection as he ghosted through the Bucs defence before rounding Moeneeb Josephs and scoring into an empty net, following Nasief Morris’ through ball.
Pirates failed to create much in attack and their efforts on goal amounted to no more than half chances as Dain Klate miscued a volley after 10 minutes before Isaac Chansa shot wide and then Dikgang Mabalane was denied by Santos keeper Pa Demba Touray.
Touray was having a storming game and also saved late on in the half from Benni McCarthy and Mabalane, both from range.
The Peoples’ Team had the first chance after the break and it could have been2-0 after 47 minutes had Josephs not done really well to block Eleazar Rodgers’ shot from the right hand side of the box.
Santos were always going to be a threat on the counter as Pirates looked for an equaliser.
There was no stopping Rodgers 15 minutes later as he expertly nodded Matthew Pattison’s free kick into the back of the net; 2-0 Santos after 67 minutes.
The hosts were three nil up in the 73rd minute as Rodgers sprinted clear, showing brilliant composure as he fired home from inside the box.
There were further chances for Santos to add salt to Pirates’ wounds, but Josephs saved well from Ricardo Skippers before Vuyisile Wana powered a 25-yard effort marginally wide.
Pirates’ attempts at a comeback appeared half-hearted allowing the home team to easily able to comfortably close out the game.
The first half was a frustrating affair for the Soweto outfit as they found it hard to break down a determined home defence, who scored twice in the second half following a second minute goal from Erwin Isaacs which set the tone for the night.
Bucs were forced to spend most of the opening 45 minutes trying to conjure an equaliser, but to no avail, after Isaacs scored after 90 seconds.
The Santos flyer timed his run to perfection as he ghosted through the Bucs defence before rounding Moeneeb Josephs and scoring into an empty net, following Nasief Morris’ through ball.
Pirates failed to create much in attack and their efforts on goal amounted to no more than half chances as Dain Klate miscued a volley after 10 minutes before Isaac Chansa shot wide and then Dikgang Mabalane was denied by Santos keeper Pa Demba Touray.
Touray was having a storming game and also saved late on in the half from Benni McCarthy and Mabalane, both from range.
The Peoples’ Team had the first chance after the break and it could have been2-0 after 47 minutes had Josephs not done really well to block Eleazar Rodgers’ shot from the right hand side of the box.
Santos were always going to be a threat on the counter as Pirates looked for an equaliser.
There was no stopping Rodgers 15 minutes later as he expertly nodded Matthew Pattison’s free kick into the back of the net; 2-0 Santos after 67 minutes.
The hosts were three nil up in the 73rd minute as Rodgers sprinted clear, showing brilliant composure as he fired home from inside the box.
There were further chances for Santos to add salt to Pirates’ wounds, but Josephs saved well from Ricardo Skippers before Vuyisile Wana powered a 25-yard effort marginally wide.
Pirates’ attempts at a comeback appeared half-hearted allowing the home team to easily able to comfortably close out the game.
