Pirates’ ship sunk

by BackPageTXT

Saturday May 11, 2019. 17:30

Orlando Pirates finished second in the Absa Premiership notwithstanding their impressive 3-0 thumping over Polokwane City in their last league game of the season at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers finished two points behind 2018/19 champions Mamelodi Sundowns who beat Free State Stars 1-0, also on Saturday, to deny the Soweto-based team.

Despite the loss Polokwane finished the season in fifth place.

The Buccaneers got off to a flying start with the opening goal in the seventh minute when Augustine Mulenga played Thembinkosi Lorch through on goal and he made no mistake with just the keeper to beat, 1-0.

Pirates doubled their lead in the 19th minute when a thunderous long-range effort from Vincent Pule found the corner of the goal, 2-0.

The home side continued to dominate matters and made it three four minutes before the break with a second goal for Lorch as he drove into the box from the left and fired into the roof of the net.

It was 3-0 at the break.

Polokwane were a much better side at the start of the second half and almost pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Bongile Booi met an inch perfect cross into the box, but his ten-yard header rattled the crossbar.

Pirates found their feet once again in the second half and came close to scoring again in the 77th minute when Luvoyo Memela let fly from 20-yards out, but his low shot scraped the outside of the post.

The pace of the game died out after that as the Buccaneers cruised to an easy win as they finished second on the league table.

Pirates (3) 3 (Lorch 7’ + 41’, Pule 19’)

Polokwane (0) 0

Teams

Pirates: 30. Sandilands; 23. Maela, 33. Munetsi, 4. Jele, 28. Dube; 27. Motshwari (Shonga 87’), 14. Nyatama (Makola 83’), 45. Pule, 3. Lorch, 11. Memela, 17. Mulenga (Qalinge 75’)

Polokwane: 50. Phali; 33. Mvelase, 24. Hlongwane, 27. Motloung, 22. Mbonani (Maponyane 68’), 20. Phiri, 25. W. Maluleke (Sikhondze 83’), 31, Wagaba, 8. J. Maluleke, 29. Mphambaniso, 3. Anas (Booi 46’).