Mihlali Baleka at Orlando Stadium
It won’t be pretty, but what’s important is the result. That was the tone Orlando Pirates set as they began their quest to win the Betway Premiership on Wednesday night.
Monnapule Mofokeng was the writer of that message as he scored a stoppage-time winner to help his side beat Chippa United 2-1 in their league opener.
The Sea Robbers made things difficult for themselves as they didn’t live up to their favourites tag and momentum that saw them reach a few milestones already this season.
Pirates will face Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final on October 5 and Jwaneng Galaxy in the second leg of the CAF Champions League’s qualifiers here on Saturday, in which they hold a 2-0 lead.
However, in this competition that they crave the most this season, they were far off their best as they looked rusty and allowed Chippa hope of returning to the Eastern Cape with something.
Everything, though, had looked set for the Buccaneers to look like the championship contenders from the onset, with the moon also in full blast to help the floodlights light up the venue.
And given the previous brawl between the two benches in the Nedbank Cup semi-final last season, Chippa’s coaches decided to sit on the far end of the dug-out.
You’d bet Chippa coach Kwanele Kopo was already wounded by the late setback even before kick-off as he came into this game limping and had a moonboot on his left leg.
But come halftime, Pirates’ fate was still up in the air as they were trailing courtesy of a scorcher from Andile Jali, who was making his homecoming at this venue.
The Sea Robbers dominated proceedings, though, with Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Saleng keeping Chippa’s defence on its toes.
But while the trio were appealing on the eye, showing glimpses of why they might carry this Pirates side to the promised land, they came unstuck upfront.
Tshegofatso Mabasa, whose return to form in front of goal will be crucial if Pirates are to return to the pinnacle of local football, just couldn’t stick the ball past Stanley Nwabali.
The stocky Nigerian goalkeeper won every loose ball inside his box, to the frustration of Pirates’ front-runners, who needed to be cheered on by their teammates and fans.
With Pirates blunt in the final third, Chippa started to make their inroads in search of a lead that would put the home side under pressure given their targets.
And that was the case when Sinoxolo Kwayiba hit a hard and low shot that forced goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to stretch out his leg to make a save.
But the Bafana Bafana international saw his rebound fall to the path of Jali, who thumped the effort into the top corner to give the Chilli Boys the lead.
Jali was a gentleman, refusing to celebrate as he, instead, hoisted his hands to the heavens to apologise to The Ghost, despite his teammates embracing him in delight.
Andile Jali adds another spectacular goal to his collection 🤩
Pirates fans will remember when he used to do this in their colours 🚀🔙
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K@Betway_za pic.twitter.com/uWozgHCqTg
The Pirates supporters continued to do their role as the 12th man, cheering their team on – something that will be crucial if they are to clinch gold this season.
Saleng should have repaid their supporters’ faith as he tossed and turned his marker inside out, only to pass his shot at goal into the arms of a woke Nwabali.
Pirates continued to exert the pressure on Chippa. And it indeed proved that fortune favours the brave as referee Xolani Kwinda awarded them a dubious penalty in stoppage time.
Kwinda adjudged Malebogo Modise for fouling a charging Saleng inside the box. The tackle looked legal and outside the box, according to replays. But nonetheless, Mabasa converted the penalty.
The second half was tightly contested, with both teams giving as good as they got. But it was Pirates that won the contest as Saleng headed home in stoppage time.
Saleng to the rescue ☠⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 18, 2024
Pirates are off to a winning start thanks to this goal 👇#BetwayPrem | #Betway_za pic.twitter.com/q7ZqwN7Q6j
That goal sent the stadium into a frenzy. But in the bigger scheme of things, it set off Pirates’ aspirations of winning the league title for the first time since 2012.
* In the other Premiership matches on Wednesday night, Golden Arrows showed that they mean business this season by beating Stellenbosch FC 2-0 at Athlone Stadium.
Siyanda Mthanti opened the scoring in the 79th minute for the KZN outfit, and then Lungelo Nguse secured all three points with a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Sekhukhune United were also victorious, beating newcomers Magesi FC 1-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane via an Andy Boyeli strike in the 44th minute.