It was a game that Orlando Pirates FC knew that nothing three points will do for them even though they were playing a very good side that’s coached well by former Bucs and Amakhosi winger Coach Arthur Zwane. Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men started the game brightly making their intentions very clear with intense pressure looking to suffocate Amazulu FC higher with relentless press and counter pressing. The hosts found it difficult to pick their way through Bucs organized pressing traps across the pitch and it was not a surprise when Tshepang Moremi’s delightful ball into the box found the inspirational Mofokeng to head it against the ground to beat Johnson and give Bucs the lead.

The fluidity with which Orlando Pirates’ attacking players operated especially the quick rotational movements in the final third was very difficult to track since there was always third-man runs and even the last goal came as a direct result. The high ball played forward was won in the air by Towering front man Evidence Makgopa who flicked the ball finding the lanky, technical tactically intelligent New Zealander Andre De Jong who held the ball and found Makgopa in a half space who then combined vision and technical quality to find Relebohile Mofokeng who made a run into the box untected to have a light-footed control before unleashed a powerful shot that hit the upright and came off the head of Johnson back into the net.

There was a time in the second half where Bucs looked very vulnerable especially in midfield as Usuthu started to remember who is the host and could have easily got a goal of their own but defensively, Orlando Pirates players especially defenders did very well to win their battles individually and collectively.

Sipho Chaine didn’t have to do much but when called upon, produced a stupendous save to deny Usuthu an equalizer with few minutes left on the clock. As I said recently, Sipho Chaine didn’t managed to keep cleansheets just because his defense was good but because he has been outstanding in denying opponents to get a goal and has once again shown that against Amazulu FC in Durban on Tuesday evening. The team is on the right and the two upcoming league games will also be of critical importance in making sure that the title race remains intact.