Chinyama hits four as Bucs crush Djabal
Takesure Chinyama scored four goals as Orlando Pirates crushed Comoros side Djabal 5-0 in their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite their early dominance it was the visitors who had the first shot on target through a controversial free-kick which, from replays, looked to have crossed the line in the 20th minute.
The hosts’ backline didn’t have much to do as Andile Jali’s solid defensive midfield display was enough to quell any sort of harm thrown by the visitors.
Takesure Chinyama’s positioning was a let down for most of Pirates’ attacks as the Zimbabwean was caught offside continuously in the first stanza.
The visitors were brought to misery when they were forced to substitute their only goalkeeper after a collision with Onyekachi Okonwo; they replaced him with an infield player.
Thabo Matlaba and Dane Klate’s combination down the right flank proved fruitful when Matlaba’s cross found Sifiso Myeni unmarked on the edge of the box and the midfielder made no mistake as he made it 1-0 with an expert finish.
Patrick Phungwayo’s overlapping run saw him cross for Chinyama to tap home in the 30th minute to make it 2-0.
Chinyama’s positioning was in question again in the 37th minute when he had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed for offside as Pirates took a 2-0 lead to the interval.
In the second half, a rejuvenated Pirates side took the field and took the game to the visitors.
Myeni’s cross in the 54th minute found Klate unmarked behind the Djabal defence, the winger headed the ball back to the on running Chinyama to make it 3-0.
A defensive error from Djabal saw a deflected Matlaba cross come off the woodwork for Chinyama to tap in for his hat-trick and Pirates’ fourth in the 64th minute.
Roger De Sa rang the changes immediately, introducing Rudolf Bester, Ndumiso Mabena and Tlou Segolela in place of Klate, Okonkwo and Manyisa.
The changes proved troublesome for the visitors as Mabena set up Chinyama for his fourth of the night to make it 5-0 in the 70th minute.
This victory sees Pirates take their 5-0 lead to the Comoros in a fortnight.
