Polokwane - Sifiso Myeni’s stoppage time strike secured a 2-1 come from behind victory for Orlando Pirates over SuperSport United in an action packed PSL encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.
Thuso Phala’s first-half strike handed Matsatsantsa the lead at the break before Issa Sarr levelled matters with 18 minutes of normal time remaining.
SuperSport were reduced to 10-men soon after as Roscoe Pietersen received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, but looked set to secure at least a point before Myeni hit home deep into additional time.
The hosts weathered an early storm to open the scoring in the 21st minute. Morne Nel picking out Phala with an exquisite through ball, the Bafana Bafana winger setting himself before firing past Brighton Mhlongo who had no chance.
Pirates pushed forward in search of the equaliser, but failed to do so before the break, things looking bleak for VV’s men heading into the tunnel.
Things almost went from bad to worse for the Buccaneers five minutes into the second stanza. David Mathebula put Dino Ndlovu through on goal, but the sturdy striker completely fluffed his effort with the goal at his mercy.
Pirates equalised through second-half substitute Issa Sarr in the 72nd minute. The Senegalese hard man was brought on to sure up the Pirates defence, but instead found himself on the end of Daine Klate’s corner-kick, sending a superb header past a helpless Ronwen Williams in the SuperSport goal.
Matsatsantsa suffered a further blow six minutes later as Pietersen received his second yellow card of the day.
SuperSport looked to have done enough to hold on for a point, but confusion in the area left Myeni with a sight of goal, the former Bidvest Wits midfielder making no mistake to secure all three points for the visitors.
The win moves Pirates up to fourth while the loss see’s SuperSport slip down to 10th.
Scorers:
SuperSport United (1) 1 (Phala 21’)
Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Sarr 72’ Myeni 90+5’)
Teams:
SuperSport United: Williams; Pietersen, Teyise, September, Khumalo (Dean 89’), Mkhabela, Nel, Phala, Manyama, Mathebula (Wome 52’), Ndlovu (Chapman 58’)
Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo; Nyauza, Jele, Mahamutsa, Phungwayo, Masalesa (Sarr 60’), Manyisa, Makola (Bacela 60’), Klate, Myeni, Erasmus (Rakhale 71’)