Pirates nail Zanaco FC

 

Mohau Ramashidja

A 1–0 lead in the first half of the second leg CAF champions’ league encounter was certainly enough to keep Orlando Pirates motivated throughout to walk away with a 2–1 win. “The away goal was crucial for us. We are getting there,” said Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa.

The home side welcomed Zanaco FC at Soccer City stadium determined to increase the away aggregate lead scored in Lusaka. Pirates made their intentions clear in the first half when the unfavoured Masuku, with only 6 appearances, scored a long range cracker outside the 18 yard.

Adamant for a comeback, it was Zanaco who outpaced the home side to find the back of the net in the 48^th minute, thanks to Musonda’s brilliant header.

With matters now being even, Pirates continued to create chances only to find their efforts going abyss. A beautiful chance orchestrated in the 67^th minute by Pirates’ midfield– finding Klate who seemed to have left his scoring boots at home. His shot went wide, left with only a keeper to beat.

With each moment being crucial for both sides, Pirates’ Klate made way for the troublesome Mpho Makola. Hungry from the word go; it was Makola who made his presents felt in the opposition’s camp, 5 minutes into his play time.

Left with no option Zanaco committed into a foul hoping to nullify the threat like they did with Pirates’ Jali in the first half. But that was not to be as Makola soldiered on to score a stunner into the top corner with a free kick.

With only 14 minutes left on the clock, the home side continued to show more dominance and desire to walk away with a win. Eager to impress as always it was Pirates’ Mahlaba who surged forward like a hot knife through butter– releasing a scorcher outside the 18 yard only to miss the crossbar by inches.

Match ended on 3–1 aggregate in favour of the Buccaneers.    

             

Wits comes up on top against arrows

 

By Mohau Ramashidja

Bidvests Wits came up on top as they walked away with the 3 points in the Absa Premiership encounter against Golden Arrows.

The home side suffered a 2–1 defeat from the students thanks to Vilakazi’s and Faty’s impeccable shots which came in the second half.

The first goal came about in the 46^th minute thanks to Langwe’s immaculate passing skills which found Wits’ captain Vilakazi in a good position to lob a shot in. With a goal behind, it was Arrows who played with great desperation trying to hit back as Wits made its last substitution hoping to maintain the lead. But that was not to be, as Arrows found the back of the net thanks to Nguzane’s left foot thunder bolt out of the 18 yard in the 82^nd minute.

Adamant of winning the day’s match it was Wits’ midfielder Faty who kept his nerve inside the 16 yard area to find the back of the net.

Given the great performance the students exhibited in the field of play, it was Wits’ midfielder Asive Langwe who walked away with the man of the match award. “The composure that I have as a player comes from my coach. He always tells me to relax whenever I’m around the ball,” He said.       

PSG keep matters neutral against Barca

By Mohau Ramashidja

All of Paris came out to play given the handful they had to deal with in the UEFA champions’ league quarter final contest between FC Barcelona and Paris ST Germain FC.

The French Log leaders welcomed FC Barcelona to a congested Rarc Des Princes stadium. Filled to capacity, Barca found themselves outnumbered in the field of play as PSG fans came into form as the 12^th man.

A gruesome contest it turned out to be as yellow cards started flying out in the genesis of the match. Taking no nonsense and committing one, it was Barca’s defender Pique who picked the first yellow for manhandling PSG’s Ibrahimovic in the 18^th minute.

For a while, PSG’s hard work at training seemed to be working for them in neutralising Barca’s Lionel Messi. But as Ibrahimovic missed each scoring chance granted to him, it was Messi who continued to crack his skull to decipher the opposition’s defence. And so it was in the 38^th minute where Dani Alves curled in a spectacular cross to Messi who needed no second invitation in nailing in a shot with his left.

Fatigue getting the best of the most expensive defender worth 33 million Pounds, Tiago Silva found himself trailing behind as Messi surged forward in search for his second, unfortunately missing the top corner by inches.

The second half turned out to be as entertaining as the first. Barca found themselves without a scoring genius as the injured Messi made way for Cesc Fabregas. PSG’s Beckham bowed out of match with a record of being the first player to have made four appearances with different clubs in the UEFA champions’ league.

Frustrations loomed in the Barca camp as no player could rise up to the occasion of utilising 402 passes shared in the 70^th minute into scoring chances. Adamant to keep up, it was Ibrahimovic who forced in an equaliser after a set piece was deflected by the woodwork in the 79^th minute.

Wasting no time in a space of 10 minutes, Barca made use of the penalty granted to them. And it was Barcelona’s master passer and captain Xavi who had no problem in sending Sirugu to the wrong side while he placed it to the right.

With 4 minutes left on the clock, Barca cleared for safety hoping to walk away with a win. But that was not to be as Ibrahimovic availed himself yet again, this time to set up a pass with a header to Matuidi who ended the evening with a thunder bolt.

Score line 2-2.