ORLANDO PIRATES VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Wednesday, 10 August 2012
Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Kick-off:20:00pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows have been beaten 2-1 by Orlando Pirates in their opening Absa Premiership fixture of the 2012/13 season at the Orlando Stadium on Friday night.

Bongi Ntuli gave Golden Arrows the lead in the first half with his first senior goal, before Thulasize Mbuyane equalised just before halftime. Tlou Segolela then the netted a superb goal for the home side to give the defending League champions the three points.

Muhsin Ertugral handed official debuts to a number of new Abafana Bes’thende signings – goalkeeper Pavels Steibors, defender Ritus Krjauklis, midfielders Souleymane Keita and Nkosinathi Ogle, and striker Stanton Lewis.

The first chance of the opening half fell to Lewis, who’s low shot from the edge of the area was pushed wide by Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.

Golden Arrows took the lead on 19 minutes as Thanduyise Khuboni dispossessed Sifiso Myeni in midfield and fed an on-rushing Souleymane Keita in the box.

The Mali midfielder’s effort was saved by Josephs, but Ntuli was on hand to tap the loose ball home.

Ntuli had another opportunity shortly afterwards as he raced down on goal, but ex-Golden Arrows defender Siyabonga Sangweni was just able to get in a tackle as he was about to pull the trigger.

Pirates found an equaliser with a rare chance in first half injury-time as Myeni’s corner was headed home by Mbuyane, with the Golden Arrows defence standing static.

A rampaging run down the right from Myeni set up Andile Jali for a shot from the edge of the area early in the second period, but his effort drifted wide of goal.

The Buccaneers were applying plenty of pressure by now and Manti Moholo fired over when he really should have hit the target at the very least.

Lewis got a sight of goal midway through the half as he let fly from 25-yards, but his effort went wide.

The winner came with 12 minutes remaining though and it was a wonderful strike from Segolela. He picked up the ball 35-yards and produced a thunderous drive that beat Steinbors at his near post.

Daine Klate then just failed to connect with an Andile Jali cross in the closing minutes as Pirates went in search of a third, while Mbuyane shot narrowly wide after being set up by Benni McCarthy.

Golden Arrows now look forward to their first home game of the campaign when they host newly-promoted University of Pretoria at the Princess Magogo Stadium on August 22