Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa and teammate Makhehlene Makhaula celebrate during the Betway Premiership match at Athlone Stadium.
Image: Nic Bothma/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates recalled strike duo Evidence Makgopa and Patrick Maswanganyi were on target to ensure the Buccaneers kept the heat on Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership title race.
A two-goal blitz on the stroke of halftime knocked the wind out of Stellenbosch FC for the visitors to claim a crucial 2-0 victory at a packed Athlone Stadium.
Pirates now move up to 62 points, and trail league-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (64 points) by just two points with both teams having three matches remaining.
It was also Pirates' goalkeeper Sipho Chaine's 18th clean sheet of the season with the Bucs shot-stopper equalling Sundowns' Ronwen Williams' all-time league record.
The expected wet and cold conditions did not materialise on what turned out to be a balmy evening in Cape Town, which played into Pirates’ favour. Equally, spurred on by a passionate supporter base that came to push their team towards the title, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team came out purring from the outset.
A glorious opening chance fell to Bafana Bafana star Oswin Appollis with the former Polokwane City forward picking up a cross into the box, but only to push his left-footed shot wide of the bottom corner.
Stellenbosch, who were without suspended regular centre back Thabo Moloisane, showed their disruption at the back when Nigerian Kazie Enyinnaya headed an Appollis cross towards his own goal, forcing goalkeeper Sage Stephens into a reflex save to avoid Pirates taking the lead.
Gavin Hunt cut a visibly frustrated figure on the touchline with the veteran coach appealing to his players, particularly midfielder Genino Palace to spread the ball wide in a bid to stretch Pirates, but on each occasion, they attempted to go through the middle to no avail.
Pirates’ hot-shot Relebohile Mofokeng’s influence on the encounter was growing as the first-half progressed and the Bucs playmaker delivered a delightful cut-back from the left to find Maswanganyi unmarked on the edge of the box.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Maswanganyi fluffed the golden chance by pushing his shot wide of the target.
The Stellenbosch dam wall, however, eventually burst due to the constant pressure Pirates were exerting when Bafana Bafana striker Makgopa showed his class by heading home an inch-perfect Maswanganyi free-kick.
The provider became the goalscorer shortly afterwards when Maswanganyi finally found the back net when he beat Stephens to virtually seal the contest before the players headed off into the tunnel at the halftime break.
The second half did not match the first stanza for entertainment with Pirates content to hold on to their advantage with the best chance actually falling to Stellies when Devin Titus' cross found Palace, but the midfielder could not contain his rich vein of scoring form with ball ricocheting against the post.
Pirates will head back to Johannesburg content that they have done their part to keep their title hopes alive and will now look on with great anticipation when Sundowns meet Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld in a crackerjack encounter on Wednesday evening.
Stellenbosch FC: 0
Orlando Pirates: 2 (Evidence Makgopa - 42; Patrick Maswanganyi - 45'+2')