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Orlando Pirates suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town yesterday.
Pirates supporters were hoping their side would continue where they left off last weekend against the same opposition, but it was not to be as Stellies avenged last week’s defeat with the same scoreline.
This was Steve Barker’s second successive league victory – their first at home – and their second in the elite league since gaining promotion from the NFD at the end of last season.
They beat Polokwane City away from home in their past league outing.
Yesterday’s was a smash-and-grab effort from the Cape side, who scored a goal against the run of play through Iqraam Rayners and then put in a superb defensive display to secure three points, which both takes them above the Buccaneers into ninth place and secures revenge for a loss at the hands of the Soweto team in the Last 16 of the Telkom Knockout last weekend.
Pirates dominated the opening phase of the match and had a few notable attacking moments, with Tshegofatso Mabasa shooting just wide on the turn.
He later charged down a clearance from goalkeeper Boy de Jong, but was not able to capitalise.
However, it was Stellenbosch who opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Rayners picked up a poor square pass from Alfred Ndengane, drove forward and sent a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands to put the hosts ahead against the run of play.
The goal boosted Stellies’ confidence and the Cape side began putting together some fast-paced attacks, calling Sandilands into some significant action as the pace and movement of Waseem Isaacs and Rayners pulled the Bucs defence all over the park.
Pirates re-established control in terms of possession, but their attempts to find an equaliser before the half-time interval were thwarted by a solid defence from Stellenbosch.
The Soweto side then made a double change early in the second half, introducing Kabelo Dlamini and Frank Mhango to boost their attack.
Pirates again dominated possession and tested De Jong with a few sharp efforts, but the longer they remained a goal down, the more their frustration grew.
In addition, the Buccaneers lacked the precision and creativity to consistently open up their hosts’ defence.
Stellies had a number of good chances to extend their lead with efforts on the counterattack, including an ambitious long-range attempt from Marc van Heerden that nearly caught Sandilands out of position.
Pirates nearly broke through in the 79th minute when substitute Justin Shonga met a right-flank cross and glanced a header towards goal, but his effort rebounded off the outside of the near post. Ten minutes later, Mabasa hit the same piece of woodwork with an acrobatic volley.
That proved to be the last hurrah for Pirates, who slumped to their third league loss in the 2019/20 campaign, while Stellies racked up a successive league victory.
Pirates will next take on Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Tuesday.
