Monnapule Saleng’s late show seal 2-1 victory for Orlando Pirates
Monnapule Saleng's last-minute header propels Pirates to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Chippa United in their Betway Prem opener!
Monnapule Saleng’s late show seal 2-1 victory for Orlando Pirates over Chippa United.
In a dramatic finish, Saleng scored in stoppage time, leading Pirates to a comeback victory against Chippa in their 2024/2025 Betway Premiership opener at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The match began slowly, typical for a first league outing as both teams sized each other up. However, Chippa United showcased moments of brilliance, putting pressure on Orlando Pirates and making them look vulnerable. Often bypassing their press in the first 30 minutes.
Andile Jali stuns Pirates with a spectacular goal
In the 21st minute, former Pirates captain Andile Jali stunned the home crowd with a breathtaking strike that found the top corner, giving Chippa a surprising 1-0 lead.
Orlando Pirates struggled to find their rhythm, as Saleng missed a golden chance to equalize in the 34th minute, shooting directly at Chippa goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Bienvenue Eva Nga almost doubled Chippa’s lead with a long-range effort, but Sipho Chaine made a crucial save just before halftime.
Late first-half drama: Tshegofatso Mabasa’s equaliser
Despite Chippa’s strong performance, Tshegofatso Mabasa, last season’s golden boot winner, converted a penalty in added time of the first half after Saleng was deemed to be fouled inside the box. This goal shifted the momentum, bringing the score to 1-1 as the teams headed into the break. A decision that will be talked about after the game, of whether or not he was fouled inside or outside the box. Or if it indeed it was a foul too to begin with.
Second half action: Nwabali’s heroics
The second half saw Nwabali continuing to shine, denying Relebohile Mofokeng in the 51st minute and making a brilliant stop from Patrick Maswanganyi’s shot in the 85th minute. Despite the pressure from Pirates, Chippa held their ground well.
Orlando Pirates’ resilience paid off in the dying moments of the match. Saleng’s 92nd-minute header secured maximum points for the Buccaneers, capping off an exciting opener.
New signing Deano Van Rooyen made his league debut for Orlando Pirates. And impressed throughout the match, solidifying his place in the squad after joining from Stellenbosch FC.
With this thrilling comeback, Orlando Pirates set a positive tone for their season. Stay tuned for more exciting matches ahead!
Stay tuned with The South African for more updates as Monnapule Saleng is the match winner for Pirates.
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