Orlando Pirates beat Sekhukhune again! Birthday boy Appollis scores, Radiopane shines as ex-Chiefs coach sees red

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Orlando Pirates beat Sekhukhune again! Birthday boy Appollis scores, Radiopane shines as ex-Chiefs coach sees red
Oswin Appollis of Orlando Pirates against Sekhukhune, Image: Pirates

Orlando Pirates beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night to open a three-point gap at the summit of the Premier Soccer League table.

Bucs were missing the services of injured stars: Thalente Mbatha, Sihle Nduli, Tshepang Moremi, and Andre De Jong. Assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi was also absent from his usual place after sustaining a knee injury.

Cedic Kaze’s Babina Noko suffered a slim 1-0 defeat to the Soweto giants last week, and were hoping to avoid a second straight loss against the same opponent.

Radiopane scores his first for the season.

The hosts needed three minutes to make their first attempt, as Sbangani Zulu connected quite well with a cross delivered by Simphiwe Masilela, but the custodian did his job.

Babina Noko could have scored, against the run of play, in the 20th minute as the defenders and Sipho Chaine failed to deal with a loose ball in the danger zone. However, they survived, as Bright Ndlovu and co. failed to take the chance.

Daniel Msendami and Boitumelo Radiopane had their chances, but it was the latter who justified his start with a cool finish in the 36th minute, guiding home a Kamogelo Sebelebele pass.

Appollis responds to his critics

The Buccaneers started the second half on a high in their bid to get a second goal to cool the nerves of the fans, as well as gain full control of the match.

In the 55th minute, Babina Noko could have pulled level when a cross in the area found Mokibelo Ramabu, who headed the ball just wide with custodian Chaine well beaten.

Pirates eventually got theri second of the evening in the 68th minute, when a swift counterattack ended up with Radiopane squaring the ball for birthday boy Appollis, who made no mistake from 16 yards out to make it 2-0.

It got worse for the visitors after former Kaizer Chiefs coach Cedrc Kaze was sent off for unsporting conduct, but the damage had already been done.

Bucs remain on top of the table with 10 points, three more than Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu, who will be in action on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the two teams meet in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final on the same venue.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

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  • Football Odds
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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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