PSL Match Report: Pirates 2-1 Chippa: Mabasa brace end Bucs’ winless run

Tshegofatso Mabasa scored twice to ensure Orlando Pirates ended their six-match winless run after defeating Chippa United 2-1 in their Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

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Rhulani Mokwena handed an official debut to newly-signed Frenchman Joris Delle in goals while shaking up things upfront as talisman Thembinkosi Lorch started alongside Augustine Mulenga.

The Mayfair outfit appeared more promising in the opening stages of the match, with the Chilli Boys keeping a good defence to stop the hungry Buccaneers from breaking the deadlock.

The Eastern Cape-based club failed to keep together their attacking game as the Soweto giants proved to be very difficult to move, though none of the sides could find the back of the net in the first half.

The home side made an immediate substitution in the second stanza, bringing on Thabiso Nonyane in place of Ntsikelelo Nyauza.

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Pirates’ hard-die attitude saw them get their reward just 10 minutes into the second half courtesy of Mabasa who unleashed a massive shot past shotstopper Patrick Tignyemb.

The former Bloemfontein Celtic frontman didn’t wait long to get his second of the afternoon, doubling the Buccaneers’ lead just five minutes later as he turned his marker to finish off Nonyane’s cross past a hapless Tignyemb.

Clinton Larsen’s charges did find a 79th minute consolation through Lerato Manzini.

Manzini was again in on the action and nearly found a late equalizer for the Chilli Boys but Delle was equally up to the task, making a crucial save that saw the Sea Robbers effectively ending a six-game winless run, with Chippa still searching for their first win of the 2019/20 campaign.