MBOMBELA – Orlando Pirates maintained their unbeaten record against newly-promoted sides with a commanding 4-0 victory over Kruger United at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The result moved Pirates three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who face another newly-promoted side in Milford FC on Wednesday night.
Kruger United remain winless after five games and sit at the bottom of the Betway Premiership table.
Ghampani Lungu gave Pirates the perfect start, converting from the penalty spot in the fourth minute after Kamogelo Sebelebele fouled a Pirates player inside the box. Referee Joseph Makhubo had initially awarded a goal kick to Kruger before consulting his assistant and pointing to the spot. Lungu sent goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari the wrong way to put Pirates ahead.
The Zambian forward’s evening ended prematurely, however, when he left the field on a stretcher with a hamstring injury shortly after scoring and was replaced by Oswin Appollis.
Kruger came close to equalising in the 19th minute when Boitumelo Malatjie delivered a good cross from the right, but Aphiwe Mphothe sent his free header over the crossbar.
The visitors went into the break with their 1-0 lead intact after Sbangani Zulu cleared a Mphothe header off the line in the 41st minute. Kruger had also appealed for a penalty in the 37th minute, with TV replays showing the ball did strike Lebone Seema’s hand inside the box, but the referee judged his hand to be close to his body.
Pirates doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half when Boitumelo Radiopane outmuscled Katlego Mohamme before beating Ntwari with a low shot to his right.
Substitute Yanela Mbuthuma then put the game beyond Kruger when he tapped in Appollis’ low cross to make it three.
Mbuthuma completed his brace in stoppage time, finding himself through on goal from a Seema pass and chipping the ball over the oncoming Ntwari to seal the comfortable victory.
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