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Pirates celebrate with win
20/02/2008 23:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates celebrated their 70th birthday in style when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Johannesburg Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Bennet Chenene headed in from close range in the ninth minute and Bucs lead doubled two minutes later when Excellent Walaza also headed in.
Former Zimbabwe striker Gilbert Mushangazhike struck the final blow five minutes after the break and it was all over for Sundowns, whose consolation goal was netted by Peter Ndlovu.
Pirates started in a flurry and pressed Sundowns back tenaciously. Sundowns defender Benson Mhlongo faltered under the pressure and tried to clear a cross which hit his keeper's bar.
Woke up Sundowns
The rebound fell kindly to Chenene who nodded it past a stranded Brian Baloyi.
Two minutes later, Chenene whipped in a pin-point cross that Walaza nodded home unchallenged.
This woke up Sundowns and they then pinned Pirates back for the duration of the half, but they could not find the back of the net. On the stroke of halftime though Ndlovu pounced on a rebound from a Fanyana Dhladhla shot and gave the visitors some hope.
However, hardly five minutes after the restart and Mushangazhike netted for the second time in Pirates colours. Sundowns tried hard to come back from the deficit, but were unable to breach the Bucs defence who held on admirably for their 70th birthday celebrations.
In Cape Town a three goal blitz within 27 minutes in the first half ensured Ajax a comfortable 3-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.
The game got off to a quiet start, with speculative long range efforts from Dipsy Selowane, Serge Djiehoua and Bongani Mbhele the only noteworthy action, despite some neat build-up play in the middle of the park from both teams.
The game was in need of a goal and Brett Evans duly obliged in the 28th minute when his free kick eluded Lance Niewenhuis, bouncing once before finding the back of the net.
Ajax striker Nathan Paulse then continued with his rich vein of scoring form, getting his name on the score-sheet in the 36th minute after beating Niewenhuis from a tight angle.
Ajax added to their tally
The Urban Warriors came close to adding a third in the 42nd minute when Mfundo Shumana had his shot blocked and the subsequent rebound fell to Paulse, who had his effort cleared on the line.
But three minutes later, Ajax did add to their tally - Paulse rising well to head home Evans' pin-point corner.
In the 70th minute, Mwafulirwa did well to get his head on the end of a Selowane cross and was unlucky to see his diving header take a couple of deflections before being claimed by the ever-busy Niewenhuis.
Ajax were in total control for the remainder of the game and should have added a fourth when Sifiso Vilakazi rounded Niewenhuis before blasting the ball over an empty net.
In Pretoria struggling Jomo Cosmos came back from a 1-0 deficit to snatch a one all draw against Supersport United.
The game was a revenge encounter for the home-team, following Matsatsantsa's poor showing against Jomo Cosmos in the last three seasons. The records shows that in the last three seasons, Cosmos have won four of their encounters while Supersport United have managed only one win, and they drew four times.
It wasn't all Supersport United though, and in the early stages of the game, Cosmos laid siege to the Supersport goal and were unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal for their efforts.
It was obvious that Jomo Cosmos lads were out to repair their dented image, while Supersport United wanted to continue with their great form and keep up the pressure on Absa log leaders, Ajax Cape Town.
Khumalo outjumped the defence
Credit must also go to the two goalkeepers, Supersport's, Denis Onyango, and Cosmos', Avril Phali, who pulled off class saves during the game.
Against the run of play, Supersport United broke through in the shape of Bongani Khumalo. The goal was a result of a well taken free kick from Dane Klate, and Khumalo outjumped the Cosmos defence and beat keeper, Phali hands down.
When everybody thought that Supersport United had already wrapped up the game, substitute, Theo Molotov came like a thief in the night and capitalised on a defensive error to clinch a point for his team with a beautiful tap in.
Other PSL results:
Free State Stars 1 (1) Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Platinum Stars 2 - Black Leopards 0
Bidvest Wits 0 - Kaizer Chiefs 2.
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