Orlando Pirates stun Chippa United
Orlando Pirates have managed to catch the log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway premiership log table . Mamelodi Sundowns are still on top of the log with 25 points after 12 games . Masandawana are not playing league games this week as they are in Algeria to face MC Alger in the CAF Champions League group stage match on Friday night . This comes after winning their opening match in the group stages against Saint Eloi Lupopo on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria .
On Tuesday night Ezikamagebhula beat Chippa United 2-0 in the Betway premiership match at Orlando Stadium . Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made several changes on the starting line up from the team that won against Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout Cup in Durban . On the bench it was Melusi Buthelezi , Olisah Ndah , Dean Vanrooyen , Patrick Maswanganyi , Kabelo Dlamini , Evidence Makgopa ,Nkosikhona Ndaba , Oswin Appollis and Makhehlene Makhaula .
After goal-less draw in the first half , Orlando Pirates came back strong in the second half; Evidence Makgopa coming from the bench , opened the scoring in the 74th minute . In the 90+3 minutes , Oswin Appollis scored to make sure that Ezikamagebhula are collecting all three points . Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was spotted at the stadium , after returning from the MLS side Chicago Fire . Mbokazi is set to join Chicago Fire in January after concluding the R51 million deal with the club .
Chippa United coach Vusumuzi Kanu Vilakazi said after the game " We are disssapointed with the results but if we can continue playing the way we played ; we are not going to go down. We had better chances in the first half. We knew that Orlando Pirates will come at us so we had to play a low block, but you can't defende 90 minutes . Chippa will never be relegated . I believe in the squad we've got , we are going to come out of this relegation " . Orlando Pirates star Deon Hotto won the man of the match .
Hotto said " We knew Chippa they are down in the bottom so obviously they are going to fight. The combination between me and Rele started three seasons ago , so we are grateful " . Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said " We played against a very good team , well organized . We needed to make some technical changes to improve . To play against the team that is looking for points it's not easy . It was very important for us not to concede ; we played against low block team, so you need to be calm . Now we are focusing on the next game in Durban , its not gonna be easy " .