Photo credit: www.supersport.com
According to sowetan Live, Any thoughts of an Orlando Pirates revival after briefly appearing back in the top half of the table received another setback with last night's 1-0 Absa Premiership defeat against fiery Free State Stars.
Bustling striker Ayanda Nkosi scored Stars' 79th-minute winner when Ea Lla Koto had Pirates on the back foot in the second half.
Bucs, who had moved up to seventh with a victory against Pretoria University before slipping out of the top eight after a loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, will remain entrenched in the bottom half after this defeat.
Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has become known as "Tinkering Tinkler" in the press and on social media. Last night's line-up saw three more changes from Bucs' defeat against Sundowns.
Thabo Matlaba returned from suspension and replaced Ntsikelelo Nyauza at right-back. In midfield Lehlohonolo Masalesa and Gift Motupa came in for Yassar Mugerwa and an injured Sifiso Myeni.
Stars' Italian coach Giovanni Solinas opted for some of his emerging youngsters, and dropped more established players such as Katlego Mashego, Robert Sankara and Angelo Kerspuy to the bench from the weekend's 1-0 defeat against Jomo Cosmos. Nhlanhla Vilakazi, Sello Jaftha, Nkosi and Reuben Thebakang were the four players who came in.
Pirates could have made life easier from themselves had they converted a string of first-half chances. An Mpho Makola free-kick from the right of the area was short to Matlaba, who beat a defender and shot high. Thamsanqa Gabuza then should have scored, beating Stars captain Paulos Masehe to canter though, but shooting at Diakite.
A half-clearance was pushed only as far as left-back Thebakang, who steamed through and forced a reflex save from Brighton Mhlongo.
Stars got a deserved winner as Nkosi got on the end of Danny Venter's chip to head past Mhlongo. Later at the other end Masehe cleared Majoro's effort off the line.
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