Orlando Pirates suffered a devastating 4-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, revealing several key weaknesses in their performance. This analysis explores five crucial reasons behind their struggles against the dominant Brazilians.
Orlando Pirates suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend. Heading into the match, the Buccaneers were just six points behind the Brazilians, knowing that a victory would bring them three points closer with a game in hand. Unfortunately for Jose Riveiro’s men, Sundowns proved to be too strong, claiming all three points at Loftus Versfeld.
This loss marked the third league defeat for Orlando Pirates at the hands of Sundowns, leading us to examine five reasons for their struggles in this match: One key factor was the absence of defender Ntsako Sesane, who has been a standout performer for the Pirates this season. With Thapelo Xoki and Olisa Ndah also out injured, Sesane's injury forced Xoki to step in against Sundowns, and he was exploited by Lucas Ribeiro. The Bucs’ captain was not adequately prepared for such a high-stakes match due to his limited game time. Another contributing factor was the performance in the left-back position. Sundowns had Aubrey Modiba, while Orlando Pirates opted for Paseko Mako instead of Innocent Maela. Deon Hotto, typically a left-back, was assigned to attacking duties on the wings. Unfortunately, Mako struggled to contain Thapelo Morena’s overlapping runs. In midfield, Kabelo Dlamini appeared lost next to Makhehleni Makhaula. Sundowns dominated this area of the pitch, manifesting late in the match when Teboho Mokoena advanced and scored a stunning goal to make it 4-1. Despite the presence of Tshegofatso Mabasa, the Buccaneers had an average bench. Mabasa came on in the second half but failed to make a significant impact. Players like Monnapule Saleng could have changed the game if selected, but the winger had not played in two months. Throughout the season, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns appeared evenly matched. However, Sundowns was the superior team and experienced a slump during Manqoba Mngqithi’s tenure. After Mngqithi’s firing, Sundowns bounced back, winning all their league games since then. Even when the Buccaneers topped the league, their performances were unconvincing, often relying on individual brilliance to secure victories in some matches.
ORLANDO PIRATES SUNDOWNS FOOTBALL PSL SOUTH AFRICA ANALYSIS MATCH REVIEW
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