Bucs crush hapless Cosmos
The Pirates romped to a 5-0 victory over a 10-man Cosmos in their Premiership match at Orlando on Saturday night.
|||Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates romped to a 5-0 victory over a 10-man Jomo Cosmos in their Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Sifiso Myeni scored one and set up another as Pirates ran riot over the relegation-threatened Ezenkosi.
The Sea Robbers took the lead as early as the ninth minute – Cosmos failed to clear a corner and Myeni found Ayanda Gcaba in space on the right. His cross-turned-shot caught goalkeeper Sherwin Naicker off guard at his near post.
The night got tougher for Jomo Sono’s men when they were reduced to 10 men.
Recent Bafana Bafana call-up Cheslyn Jampies was sent for an early shower after his two-feet challenge was deemed a red card offence by referee Victor Gomes.
In the 25th minute, Thabo Qalinga’s corner was misjudged by Naicker, but Edwin Gyimah sent his header over the crossbar.
Myeni then turned goal scorer in the 28th minute as he powered home a header from a Luvuyo Memela set piece.
Eric Tinkler’s men grabbed a third, five minutes from the half-way mark.
Mpho Makola produced a curling effort after he was allowed time and space just outside the Cosmos penalty area.
Two minutes later and three became four. Tendai Ndoro tapped in from close range after good work from Gyimah down the right wing.
On the hour mark Myeni was once again in the thick of the action. The former Bidvest Wits man struck a bicycle kick from Ntsikelelo Nyauza’s cross narrowly over Naicker’s goal.
Gift Motupa put the icing on the cake when he was played in by Ndoro. Motupa showed great composure when he rounded Naicker to make it five.
The result means Pirates move into sixth position on the log, ahead of Chippa United on goal difference.
The defeat for Ezenkosi leaves them just two points above last-placed Maritzburg United who have a game in hand on the team from Tembisa.
“I thought the first half was very good. We played with a lot of width. It is good to see everyone get on the scoresheet. We cannot just rely on Ndoro,” Tinkler said.
“The early red card destroyed all our plans. It is not easy to play a team like Pirates with a man short. They tried their best but there was only one team on the park and that was Pirates,” Sono said. – African News Agency (ANA)