Pirates climb to third with Celtic scalp

Orlando Pirates climbed to third spot in the DStv Premiership standings with a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic on Tuesday evening.

Pirates made just a single change from the win over Maritzburg United on Saturday in Kabelo Dlamini, who replaced the suspended Thabang Monare.

The first shot in anger came from the visiting side following the opening 20 minutes when a free-kick outside the area from Ndumiso Mabena went up and over the wall before going into the stands.

A promising passing move on the edge of the area minutes to the half-hour mark from the Buccaneers almost led to the opener, but Dlamini dragged wide of the bottom-corner.

Pirates closed in again seven minutes to halftime when Deon Hotto acrobatically volleyed a cutback from the left-side by Vincent Pule over the top.

The Buccaneers should’ve made their bright spell count a minute before the interval through a first-time strike from an acute angle by Siphesihle Ndlovu, but goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane parried.

Celtic finished the first half with ten players after Ndumiso Mabena saw red for a studs up challenge on Linda Mntambo.

The set-back forced John Maduka to make a change ahead of the second half in Harris Tchilimbou, who replaced Menzi Masuku.

Celtic enjoyed a bright restart after Victor Letsoalo took aim from a tight angle out wide but goalkeeper Richard Ofori parried and denied a one-on-one from Lucky Baloyi soon thereafter.

However, the Sea Robbers kept cool and within 62 minutes took the lead after Fortune Makaringe cut in towards the centre of the area to find the bottom-corner.

Pirates could’ve added a second inside two minutes through an intelligent run from the left by Paseka Mako, but Mabokgwane collected.

The match evened out in the final stages with reduced openings seeing the Buccaneers to victory in the end.