GOLDEN ARROWS VS ORLANDO PIRATES | ABSA

Competition: Absa Premiership
Date: Sunday, 19 December 2012
Venue: Moses MabhidaStadium
Kick-off: 19:30pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows finished 2012 with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday night.

Abafana Bes’thende might have got at least a point on the night, but could not find a way past Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa and his defence.

Goals from Daine Klate and Happy Jele sealed their fate and it will now be seven weeks before they are back in action after the festive season break and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Klate had an early opportunity, but shot over the bar as he cut inside from the left. It was an early indication that he was fired up for this one though.

At the other end Bongi Ntuli skinned Lucky Lekgwathi, but his shot was dragged wide when he really should have hit the target.

The striker had another great chance midway through the first period, but he blasted the ball over the bat from Siyanda Zwane’s great lay-off.

The home side were made to pay three minutes later when Klate gave Pirate the lead, his expert free-kick giving home goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors no chance.

Just a minute later and Collins Mbesuma might have made it 2-0, but his shot was blocked and the danger cleared.

Thabo Matlaba then showed his willingness to get forward from the left-back position, but blazed his effort over the bar.

The first chance of the second half fell to Musa Bilankulu, who put his header wide of goal, but it was the visitors who scored next.

Happy Jele rose unmarked at the back post to head home Klate’s corner on 54 minutes to give Pirates some breathing space.

Steinbors did brilliantly to deny Mbesuma on the hour-mark, before Oupa Manyisa blazed over the bar when well-placed.

Matlaba forced another excellent stop from Steinbors as the Latvian turned his shot past the post.
Next up for Golden Arrows on February 13 is an away trip to University of Pretoria.

MATCH STATS

Lamontville Golden Arrows 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Klate 25, Jele 54)

Golden Arrows: Steinbors, Zwane, Musonda, Bilankulu, Tom, Nene (Gabuza 65’), Zothwane (Khuboni 72’), Krjauklis, Hadebe, Mapolisa (Sheppard 46’), Ntuli

Pirates: Meyiwa, Jele, Lekgwathi, Sangweni, Matlaba, Myeni (Makola 79’), Manyisa, Jali (Moholo 89’), Ntshumayelo, Klate, Mbesuma (Chinyama 83’)