Saleng Scores Twice As Pirates Beat Arrows

Monnapule Saleng scored his first goals in the colours of Orlando Pirates as they beat Golden Arrows 2-0 at Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday night.

Saleng, who Pirates loaned him last season to Swallows FC, was untouchable especially with Kermit Erasmus in tandem, as the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker assisted him in both goals in the first half.

The win moved Pirates to fourth in the DStv Premiership table with 19 points after 11 games, replacing their bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Coming to this game, Pirates had not beaten Arrows in the last six matches, with five goalless draws and two last season.

Pirates last time beat Arrows in Durban was in March 2019 when Justin Shonga scored the all important goal.

From the squad that started that match, only Ben Motshwari is still part of this Pirates side.

Backed by a boisterous crowd in KwaMashu, Pirates could have gone ahead but Phillip Ndlondlo cluttered the crossbar in the second minute.

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It didn’t take long for Pirates to find the breakthrough as Arrows were under siege of pressure.

Erasmus set up Saleng for the first, as the latter picked up the spot at the far corner in the sixth minute.

Saleng returned the favour to Erasmus, but the latter shot went straight to Nkosi Gumede.

Pirates, although the pitch was compact and not allowing their expansive football, were given so much time and space.

The Soweto giants then punished Arrows further with Saleng adding the second in the 24^th minute. He combined well with Erasmus before unleashing a shot that squirmed in the grasp of Gumede.

Pirates coach Jose Riveiro did not look happy on the bench despite his side on the front foot and dominating the game.

Saleng continued to be a menace and lost Nqobeko Dlamini with a drop of the shoulder a few minutes later, but this time his shot went wide.

Gumede continued to be called into action for Arrows in the 40^th minute as Erasmus thundered a shot into his palm, pushing the ball to Deon Hotto but the Namibian swung his left foot hard and missed the target.

Arrows thought they had pulled one back just before half time, but Velemseni Ndwandwe was flagged offside.

Abafana Bes’ Thende could have gotten themselves back into the game in the 48^th minute, but Nduduzo Sibiya, with Siyabonga Mpontshane to beat, fluffed his chance, much to the bemusement of his technical team.

This win will come as a huge morale booster for Pirates ahead of their crunch match against Mamelodi Sundowns at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, ending three league matches of winless streak. The MTN8 semi final second leg in Limpopo is finely balanced after it ended into a goalless draw in the first leg.