Benni McCarthy scored inside ten minutes, coming on as a substitute, to help Orlando Pirates get their Absa Premiership title defence off to a good start, by beating Black Leopards 2-0 in their match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
The hype surrounding the match was all about McCarthy and when he would be introduced. New Pirates coach Julio Leal obliged by bringing on the all time leading scorer for the national team just after the hour mark, and McCarthy was in the perfect position to score a simple goal in the 70th minute.
McCarthy’s ‘tap-in’ doubled his side’s lead after a first half goal from Bongane Ndulula.
Overall, the champions were not convincing in their performance but were clinical in their finishing giving them the comfortable two goal win.
Earlier, Pirates began the game at pace and looked eager on attack, with the premiership newcomers seemingly intimidated by the champions.
In the 10th minute Pirates went ahead through an acrobatic Ndulula finish, after Leopards keeper Azwinndini Maphaha punched a free kick cross straight into the striker’s path. Ndulula obliged and the Bucs were into an early 1-0 lead.
Leopards responded in the 24th minute through Edgar Manaka with a long range shot that had Pirates keeper Moeneeb Josephs diving full stretch to make the save.
Four minutes later, Pirates were lucky to escape conceding as Leopards midfielder Raymond Monama ran straight through the defence. Monama tried to chip the keeper and his shot sailed wide.
Despite controlling the play for much of the first half, Pirates were unable to create many chances on goal after the early breakthrough.
On half time, Leopards should have levelled the score as Thabo Mongalo was one-on-one with Jospehs, but the Bucs shot-stopper did well to block the attempt and help his side into the break with their lead intact.
Just after the hour mark, the crowd got what it had been waiting for as McCarthy came on for Ndulula.
Conversely, Mark Mayambela to the frustration of the Pirates fans was wasteful with possession as they called for him to be substituted.
Later McCarthy returned to the ’18 area’ with his goal as a Pirates attack left the striker with simplest shot from the far post to get his Buccaneer career off to a dream start.
Speaking after the game, Leal was pleased with the result.
“We played really well, very quiet, very calm and comfortable,” he said. “With an offensive approach, by chance we got a goal early and it gave us the opportunity to use the ball better.
“We brought in Benni and he got a chance and he scored so I’m very happy.
“It was very important that we pick up three points in this match, the first of the season and being an away game,” he said. — Sapa