Pirates end Sundowns’ record

Orlando Pirates brought the Mamelodi Sundowns juggernaut to a halt on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 2-1 win at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in an engrossing and dramatic Absa Premiership game.

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The hero for the Buccaneers was striker Thulasziwe Mbuyane, who netted twice in the last ten minutes of the first half to secure a lead that proved to be decisive. The Brazilians pulled one back late on from Mabhuti Khenyeza, but it was too little, too late.

The result brings Sundowns’ 100 per cent winning record at the start of the season to an end and sees Pirates bring themselves right back into contention in the upper echelons of the league table.

The first 35 minutes were a disappointment, with neither side able to provide any kind of penetration, and the respective goalkeepers -- Calvin Marlin for Sundowns and Moeneeb Josephs for Pirates -- were virtual spectators.

The Buccaneers did enjoy the majority of possession and were able to put pressure on the Brazilian’s defence whenever Daine Klate and Ruben Cloete combined down the left, but too often their final ball was easy to defend.

The match finally came to life in the 35th minute when -- almost out of nowhere -- Pirates took the lead. Thulasizwe Mbuyane took advantage of some rare space in the Brazilians’ half and fired a beautiful long-range shot past Marlin’s right hand.

The goal was exactly what the game needed and sparked Sundowns into life somewhat. Franklin Cale got the home side’s first shot on target in the 40th minute, testing Josephs low to his left with a dipping free kick.

However, Pirates caught ‘Downs napping at the back in injury time at the end of the first half and doubled their lead. Ezenwa Otorogu played a well-weighted pass to put Andile Jali in behind the backline, the youngster pulled a fine ball back to the far post and Mbuyane was on hand to double his -- and Pirates’ -- goal tally.

Sundowns made a double change at the start of the half, throwing on Mabhuti Khenyeza and Lebohang Mokoena. The former almost scored with his touch, hooking a volley onto the crossbar after a corner kick for the home team.

On 55 minutes Mbuyane spurned a glorious chance for a goal that would have brought him his hat-trick and effectively ended the game as a contest, failing to beat Marlin from point-blank range after a great low cross from Klate.

It seemed as if Sundowns’ were destined to be frustrated for the entire 90 minutes but with juts a minute of regulation time left on the clock Khenyeza fired home a volley to make it 2-1 and set-up a nail-biting ending.

There was almost nine minutes of added time -- most of it added due to the many injuries suffered by Pirates players in what was a bruising encounter -- but the visitors managed to hold out and claim a famous 2-1 win.

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Khenyeza 89’)
Orlando Pirates: (2) 2 (Mbuyane 35’ 45+1’)

Teams:

Sundowns: (4-2-3-1) Marlin; Mwanjali, Booth, Mungomeni, Mdledle; Pattison (Mushekwi 77’), Nyandoro; Pelembe, Moriri (Khenyeza 46’), Cale (Mokoena 46’); Mphela

Pirates: (4-4-2) Josephs; Jele, Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Cloete; Mabalane, Ngobeni, Jali (Manyisa 59’), Klate; Mbuyane (Johannes 89’), Otorogu (Mashego 71’)