Orlando Pirates midfield star Steve Lekoelea showed his genius when taking free-kicks as he helped Bucs to an easy 3-0 win over struggling Jomo Cosmos in their Castle Premiership showdown played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Wednesday night.
The classy Lekoelea scored two goals — one in each half from free-kicks. The other goal was a header from Phumudzo Manenzhe in the 83rd minute.
The win sees the Buccaneers stretch their unbeaten league record to 16 matches and in this form, Pirates are going to take some stopping. They are odds-on favourites to lift the title as the season enters the second round of the league programme.
Pirates led 1-0 at half-time.
Cosmos started brightly and tried to take the initiative. However, they never looked like troubling Bucs’ defence.
Once the league leaders got into their stride, there looked to be only one winner. Pirates, led by their hard-running talisman and captain Benedict Vilakazi, took control after 10 minutes and never looked back.
Gift Leremi missed a glorious opportunity to put the Buccaneers ahead in the 13th minute. Leremi blasted an inch-perfect cross from Tyren Arendse over the Ezenkosi crossbar.
A brilliant free-kick from Lekoelea in the 30th minute had the 8 000-strong crowd on its feet. The classy midfielder netted with a free-kick that England star David Beckham would have been proud to claim.
Pirates had been awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. He squeezed the ball between ‘keeper Avril Phali and the top right-hand corner, giving Phali no chance.
Four minutes later, Lekoelea struck the woodwork with Phali well beaten. From the rebound, Vilakazi also hit the same post.
Pirates were well on top, though, and more goals were inevitable. Bucs came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Defender Jimmy Tau almost made it 2-0 but his close-range shot hit the side netting in the 52nd minute.
But it was the brilliant Lekoelea who made it 2-0 with a low, hard free-kick in the 66th minute that again beat Phali and gave Bucs their two-goal advantage.
Bucs defender Abednigo Netshodwe should have made it 3-0 in the 70th minute. Netshodwe, with only Phali to beat, shot straight at the grateful goalkeeper, who managed to block the shot.
Manenzhe put the cherry on top when he headed home substitute Joseph Makhanya’s free kick with seven minutes remaining. — Sapa