Not even the mortification of conceding a goal within the opening minute could prevent Orlando Pirates from charging to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 victory over Bush Bucks at a chilly Ellis Park on Saturday night.
The Buccaneers now shade Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 earlier in the day, by a narrow goal-difference superiority in what is becoming an enthralling race for top honours this season.
But Pirates appeared as nonplussed as a boxing champion who has been floored in the opening round during the opening 15 minutes and might easily have trailed by two goals after Mduduzi Mdladla ‘s powerful header had opened the score after only 50 seconds.
The diminutive Joseph Makhanya was instrumental in Pirates shaking off their shackles while initiating goals by Phumudzo Manenzhe (15th min) and timely substitute Lelo Mbele with only seconds of the opening half remaining.
The gallant, unflappable Bush Bucks, however, remained in contention until the 78th minute when Fisher Kondowe performed a kamikaze act by grabbing Pirates substitute Lebohang Mokoena round trhe neck to concede a penalty and receive a yellow card for an act that would have been similarly punished on the rugby field.
Mbele recorded his second goal from the penalty spot to make the score 3-1 and virtually signal the end of Bush Bucks’ resistance in a game of perpetual motion, if not perpetually precise. – Sapa