Jayden Adams battles Innocent Maela. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter
9/10 for Sibisi: Pirates at Stellenbosch player ratings
A first trip on the road has seen Orlando Pirates drop points against Stellenbosch FC. Here are quick player ratings.
Jayden Adams battles Innocent Maela. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter
Orlando Pirates fans have quickly gone from high excitement to frustrating disappointment. The second game of the season at Stellenbosch FC lacked real quality.
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STELLENBOSCH 1-1 ORLANDO PIRATES
As The South African website reported on Wednesday evening, the Sea Robbers traveled to the Western Cape with a swagger after truly impressing against Swallows FC last weekend.
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But a disjointed and somewhat nervous performance against Stellenbosch resulted in a 1-1 draw. Bucs’ goal of the night came via Nkosinathi Sibisi’s fine header late in the second half, before Junior Mendieta showed he also can header the ball well on 54 minutes.
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BUCS PLAYERS RATINGS:
- Richard Ofori, 7 – Showed high concentration and organisation of his defence as the home side made only one shot on target.
- Bandile Shandu, 5 – Was not impactful and threatening enough up the wing.
- Nkosinathi Sibisi, 9 – Superb performance, Pirates’ best player on the pitch. Scored a fine header.
- Innocent Maela, 7- Did really well to support and create spaces for his center-back partners.
- Olisa Ndah, 7 – Great calm and timing of challenges for most of the night.
- Tebogo Tlolane, 5 – Looked ill-suited for the full-back position. Was taken off at half-time.
- Goodman Mosele, 8 – The second best player in a white shirt after Sibisi. Fully involved in forward play.
- Ben Motshwari, 7 – Kept it quite simple and passed really well but without being dangerous in offence.
- Thembinkosi Lorch, 6 – Lost the ball way too much but it is expected from the number 10 as the main risk-taker.
- Kabelo Dlamini, 5 – Hardly influenced the game alongside Lorch as the twin number 10.
- Eva Nga, 5 – Was kept quiet by Stellenbosch’ Mogamad De Goede and young debutant Oswin Andries who won the man of the match.
Substitutes:
- Deon Hotto, 6 – Did not create enough chances as expected but had a better performance than Tlolane.
- Miguel Timm, 6 – Brought improved calm in midfield.
- Vincent Pule, 5 – Was not threatening enough, seemed to hide as Dlamini did.
- Tapelo Xoki, 6 – Made two quality tackles in a short space of time.
- Thabiso Monyane, 7 – Took on Stellies defenders and delivered dangerous crosses.
Meanwhile, Jose Riveiro‘s side will travel back to Johannesburg before hosting Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday at 15:00.
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