Sibisi the hero as Orlando Pirates stay in PSL title race after beating Chippa United

Orlando Pirates bounced back to winning ways in the Premiership to keep their title challenge alive after beating Chippa United 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Wednesday night.

The Sea Robbers didn’t allow the Chilli Boys to further take the wind out of their sails amid their title challenge after claiming the victory in Gqeberha.

It was Nkosinathi Sibisi’s late first-half goal that ensured that Pirates beat Chippa to trim the gap at the top of the log to 16 points.

Pirates needed to win on Wednesday night, having lost their last clash to Marumo Gallants and going 18 points behind log leaders and champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

And with Pirates’ next league game at home to Sundowns, they could trim that gap to 13 points, and eventually one if they win all of their four games in hand.

Pirates, though, must do better than they did here. They were ill-disciplined and disorganised as Chippa created some good moments of their own.

Crunch time always requires experienced and senior players to step up.  But for all their depth, the Buccaneers have been struggling in both regards recently.

As such, they were exposed in their two losses to Sundowns and Marumo Gallants as they made schoolboys errors that were punished.

It seemed as though the going would get tougher on Wednesday night as they also started with two youngsters, Siyabonga Ndlozi and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, in their back-four.

But it wasn’t to be. The return of coach Jose Riveiro to the bench from suspension brought some game management to the Sea Robbers.

Debutant Mbokazi was, however, given a reality check on the big stage as he was cautioned with a yellow card in the first five minutes, making for a nervy start.

That ordeal nearly punished Pirates as Giovanni Philander placed his set-piece inches wide, albeit worrying Melusi Buthelezi, who was standing in for the suspended No 1 Sipho Chaine.

To perhaps prove that Pirates lack leaders, captain and Mbokazi’s centre-back partner, Nkosinathi Sibisi, got himself into Sikhumbuzo Gasa’s books for simulation.

Both teams started the have a go at each other as the game opened up. But while Chippa looked to score with every counter, it was Pirates who came very close.

Kabelo Dlamini put a curling effort inches wide from close range after being teed up by Relebohile Mofokeng off the flank.

Pirates started to get a sniff of opportunities. As a result, Stanley Nwabali had to block Tshegofatso Mabasa’s cheeky effort from close range from yet another Mofokeng ball.

The 20-year-old Mofokeng didn’t stop in keeping Chippa’s defence. As such, his work-rate alongside Mohau Nkota on the flanks resulted in the early withdrawal of left back Azola Ntsabo.

Mofokeng, who continues to defy his age and carry the team on his shoulders, was back at it in stoppage time, assisting Sibisi for the opener.

The Bafana international lobbied a cheeky corner into the box, and Sibisi did well to run from the far post before connecting with the ball to poke his header in at Nwabali’s near post.

Chippa made two more substitutions at halftime as Bienvenu Eva Nga and Ronaldo Maarman took to the pitch, but it was Pirates who should have doubled their lead.

Nkota was able to get inside the box and create acres of space for himself with his left foot, but he unceremoniously put his effort in the stands.

Pirates’ missed chance didn’t only lead to ill-discipline as Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha were yellow-carded by Gasa for dissent and a foul, but brought back Chippa into the game as well.

Pirates, though, held their nerve to grind out for the result which all but put them back in the title race after a disappointing result in Bloemfontein over the weekend.

Wednesday’s Premiership Results

Cape Town City 1-1 TS Galaxy

Richards Bay 2-1 Sekhukhune United

Golden Arrows 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

SuperSport United 0-0 AmaZulu

Chippa United 0-1 Orlando Pirates