Platinum Stars lose to Pirates in Rustenburg

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Jan 27, 2018. 17:47

Platinum Stars suffered their 10th loss in the Absa Premiership when they went down 2-0 to Orlando Pirates at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

From this defeat, the Rustenburg-based side remain placed at the bottom of the standings with 15 points from 19 games.

Stars started on a high as Bonginkosi Ntuli made a great turn in the box in the third minute to force a save from goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane.

A minute later, the Buccaneers responded but Thembinkosi Lorch wasted a glorious chance when his effort was saved by Dino Visser in a one-on-one situation.

Despite few chances after the 20th minute, a cross from the Innocent Maela met Justin Shonga in the box, who beat two Dikwena defenders to score his first goal for the visitors with two minutes to half-hour mark.

The Soweto giants had brilliant touches in Stars’ half and Musa Nyatama could only hit the side of the net from close range in the 41st minute.

Coach Milutin Sredojevic’s side went to the recess leading 1-0 at half time.

The 51st minute saw Riyaad Norodien showing his quality in beating Stars defence, but his well-struck shot was punched away by Visser for a corner.

Pirates piled more pressure on their hosts and four minutes later, Shonga came close to doubling his tally when his curling shot went inches wide, with Visser merely becoming a spectator.

After the hour mark, coach Roger De Sa’s men fought hard to bag an equaliser and Mabokgwane was equal to the task to deny Zama Rambuwane from a dangerous free kick.

Pirates were rewarded when Lorch made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when he produced a fine finish in the box from a cross down the right flank.

Although Pirates dominated the proceedings, chances in front of goal were few and far between in the last 10 minutes as the visitors added more woes to the Phokeng-based outfit.

From this win, Pirates are now placed at number two on the log table with 30 points from 19 league games.

Platinum Stars 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Shonga 28’, Lorch 72’)

Platinum Stars: Visser, De Jongh, Sithole, Mthethwa, Mpeta (Nale 86’), Mere, Mekoa (Monama 77’), Rambuwane, Ng'ambi, Msomi (Koapeng 46’), Ntuli

Orlando Pirates: Mabokgwane, Shitolo (Munetsi 61’), Nyauza, Dube, Maela, Nyatama, Makola (Thopola 83’), Norodien (Kutumela 66’), Memela, Lorch, Shonga