It was yet another crucial three-point haul for the Buccaneers, who secured a fifth consecutive league win in Soweto in Tuesday. The victory brought them level on points with table leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, with only goal difference separating the two sides.
Resuming league action with an important midweek assignment, Pirates made a couple of early surges into Chippa territory. They did not immediately pose a significant threat. It was the visitors who conjured up the game’s first opportunity.
Against the run of play in the fourth minute former Bucs striker Bienvenu Eva Nga forced Sipho Chaine to dive low to his right to keep out a shot taken from outside the box. The hosts weathered a brief storm from the Chilli Boys before stringing together a succession of chances. Sipho Mbule was twice denied by goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi. Eva Nga, meanwhile, continued to be a menace at the other end, where he got the better of defender Nkosinathi Sibisi before floating his shot over the crossbar.
Despite fielding the odd scare from the visitors, Pirates remained unrelenting in their pursuit of the opener. They continued to bombard the Chippa goal with shots from range, with Tshepang Moremi and Deon Hotto each placing their attempts wide. The breakthrough remained elusive as the half-time whistle eventually sounded with nothing to separate the two sides.
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Greeted by a heavy downpour at the start of the second half, the hosts’ spirits were not dampened as they immediately sought to seize the initiative. They had a golden opportunity five minutes after the restart when Mbule and Mbuthuma carved their way through the defence with some neat touches.
The striker’s toe-poke from point-blank range could not find a way past Msibi. Chippa continued to frustrate, absorbing wave after wave of Bucs attacks. The deadlock lasted until the 75th minute when Mofokeng linked up with Hotto out wide. The veteran full-back set-up replacement striker Evidence Makgopa for an easy finish to make it 1-0. The visitors looked to hit back immediately but were rebuffed by some heroics from Chaine, who pulled off a superb save. He made another save just seconds later, this time keeping out a long-range attempt from defender Sirgio Kammies.
The Chilli Boys’ spirited fightback triggered a response from the home side, who looked to double their advantage as the clock wound down. They were able to extend their lead deep in injury time through Oswin Appollis, who was afforded room to manoeuvre inside the box before producing an inch-perfect curler to give his side some breathing space. It proved to be enough to ensure victory, with Pirates showing their class once more in holding their nerve to get over the line in front of their home support.
