Tshegofatso Mabasa came off the bench to score a dramatic winner for Orlando Pirates as they came from behind to sink SuperSport United 2-1 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
SuperSport took an early lead in the sixth minute when the ball fell kindly to Teboho Mokoena after a bit of a goalmouth scramble and he calmly toe-poked the ball past Buccaneers goalkeeper Richard Ofori and in to the back of the net.
After taking the lead, SuperSport's full-backs were content to sit tight as the Bucs wing-backs pushed high up the field. In the 20th minute, Jooste pinged a cross into the danger area and it landed at Pule’s feet. He fired at goal but his angles were off as the shot went over the bar.
Shortly before the interval, Vincent Pule shook the attentions of the defence as he shifted to the left to fashion a bit of room to pull the trigger. He was in a pocket of space and fired goalwards but it went over the bar.
Four minutes after the interval, Pirates won a penalty when Siya Nhlapo brought down Zakhele Lepasa, who was bearing down on goal. And the former TS Galaxy stepped up to powerfully convert the penalty.
Grobler had his first real chance with 25 minutes to go as he got his head to a cross into his channel. He rose to meet it but headed over as Ofori watched it sail harmlessly above him.
Five minutes later, Lepasa was on the end of a cross from the left and headed it into the ground, beyond the near side upright, with Williams following it wide.
Bucs coach Josef Zinnbauer replaced Lepasa with Tshegofatso Mabasa in the 81st minute and six minutes later he made a massive impact, grabbing what would be the eventual winner with just three minutes left of regular time.
- TEAMtalk Media