Mihlali Baleka
TS GALAXY 0
ORLANDO PIRATES (1) 2
Mbatha 16, Mofokeng 72
Mbombela is known for its beauty and nature — the Kruger National Park in these parts boasting the ‘Big Five’ – the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino! But at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night, Orlando Pirates produced their ‘big six’ – a sixth win in a row since the start of the Betway Premiership.
This result ensures they enjoy an excellent start to the season as they are top of the log with 18 points, six ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates also won the Nedbank Cup here last season, with Relebohile Mofokeng scoring the decisive goal. The 20-year-old, alongside Thalente Mbatha, brought about another victory on Tuesday.
Unlike Pirates, Galaxy are yet to win in the league this season. Their start is muddied by four losses and one draw, which came last week against Marumo Gallants. Jose Riveiro, meanwhile, in his third season, could finally be looking at “God’s Window” and seeing the promised land of a possible league title.
Of course, that’s always been the mandate for the Spaniard from day one, but along the way, he’s created some beautiful memories, winning five domestic trophies out of seven. That tally could still rise this season, with the Nedbank Cup still to be defended. But come the end of May, The Ghost will want to see the beauty of the league title gracing their trophy cabinet.
The strides to make that a reality came as Riveiro celebrated his 99th match in charge of the Sea Robbers, claiming his 60th victory.
Galaxy started the game on a high, making a flurry of entries into Pirates’ final third as Khulumani Ndamane and Mpho Mvelase tested the waters first. Makhehlene Makhaula, 34, who was voted the Player of the Match, made some daring clearances and blocks to keep their attempts out.
His effort allowed Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota to show some flashes of individual brilliance going forward. Mofokeng’s beautiful exploits nearly provided the opener for Evidence Makgopa, but the striker couldn’t bury the chance as he slipped and put his effort wide. Mbatha, however, saved Makgopa from his blushes, hitting a hard and low piledriver which flashed past Ira Tape’s hands, after latching onto a loose ball outside the box.
Mbatha could have cemented his Bafana Bafana return — having made the provisional squad for the final two Afcon qualifiers earlier — with his second goal thereafter. But it wasn’t to be. The 24-year-old’s half volley, after connecting with a loose ball from Kabelo Dlamini’s corner kick, was brilliantly saved by Tape.
Backed by their home crowd, the Rockets hunted for the equaliser later in the first half, but they shot blanks instead, with referee Eugene Mdluli even turning away their cry for a penalty. The hosts protested angrily, so much so that Mdluli had to remind Galaxy’s coach Sead Ramovic before the resumption that he — and not anyone else — was running the show.
A white smoke from the stands complimented the restart — perhaps The Ghost sending a message to their team that they were due for a braai, hence they must wrap up the game soon. Nkota nearly heeded that call as he defied his small size to bulldoze his way in between Galaxy’s defenders before his effort, with his weaker right foot, forced out a save from Tape in-goal.
The hosts tried to exert pressure on Pirates in search of an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be. Rather, Mofokeng offered a thing of beauty to wrap up the game, fighting for possession outside the box before winning it and turning to unleash a perfectly executed shot into Tape’s corner.