Marumo Gallants stun Orlando Pirates to hand ex-coach Abdeslam Ouaddou painful return

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Marumo Gallants stun Orlando Pirates to hand ex-coach Abdeslam Ouaddou painful return

Orlando Pirates lost a second successive PSL game when they were beaten 2-1 by Marumo Gallants at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Looking for a first win of the season after losing to Sekhukhune United in their league opener on Saturday, Pirates had a quick start which was rewarded with an early goal.

The Soweto giants took the lead after 15 minutes when Patrick Maswanganyi swept home from Deon Hotto’s cross.

The left-back had received the ball, chested it, before crossing in the box and an onrushing Maswanganyi met it first time in the box to slot past Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

Bucs pay for their missed chances

Arubi was then called into action in the 35th minute when he made two double saves to deny Pirates and four minutes later, he saved Gallants once more.

Oswin Appollis had made a good run into the box and was close to pulling the trigger when Arubi got to the ball first although the former Polokwane City winger should have been awarded a penalty as he was hacked down by a Gallants defender in the ensuing melee.  

Pirates lived to rue the missed chances as on the stroke of halftime, Gallants drew level with a well-worked goal.

Siyabonga Nhlapo floated in a good ball over the Pirates defence with Bheki Mabuza heading it downward and as the ball bounced, Daniel Msendami slammed it home on his left foot for a deserved 1-1.

How did Gallants kill off Pirates?

After the break, Gallants put up a spirited defensive performance to deny Pirates opportunities on their goal as they looked to get a point from the game.

However, in the second minute of the four added on, Gallants punished their former coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who is now the Pirates boss.

Teboho Motloung brought in a delicious cross which Jaisen Clifford poked home to make it 2-1 for the home side as the two substitutes combined to punish a lethargic Pirates.

It was a second straight game in which Ouaddou sprung up a surprise in his starting XI with Nkosinathi Sibisi missing from the team while Sipho Mbule and Relebohile Mofokeng were left on the bench.

Pirates have now failed to pick up any points from their first two games of the season which will increase the scrutiny on Ouaddou.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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