Zimbabwean international striker, Tendai Ndoro was on target again when his solitary strike earned the Buccaneers a valuable three points to move them to the top five bracket on the log standings.
Ndoro’s early strike in seventh minute of the Absa Premiership match against a rejuvenated Free State Stars was enough to give the Bucs maximum points at the iconic Orland Stadium in Orlando East, Soweto.
Ndoro could have netted a brace had his other shot in the 13th minute been on target. He was denied the brace by the upright as the Zimbabwean continued his impressive goal scoring form, match after match.
He is currently the most feared striker in the league, taking over from Zambian and Mpumalanga Black Aces marksman, Collins Mbesuma. Mbesuma has also been banging the goals for Aces but unfortunately the team has hit a low form of lately.
But Stars were not in the game like lambs to the slaughter. They are currently in devastating form and play enterprising football but they lack the killer punch upfront.
Judging from their missed opportunities, three or so of which were clear-cut goals but saved by the heroic Brighton Mhlongo in between the posts, two fierce strikes from Stars forwards where parried over the cross bar for corners by Mhlongo while a third one also hit the upright just as Ndoro’s.
One of the Stars attempts was from a brilliantly taken free kick a short distance from the 18 area, which aimed at the head of one of the forwards, who headed it home but was taken off course by Mhlongo as he parried it over the cross bar.
Though the Buccaneers crowned it, the game could have easily been anyone’s or ended up in a draw. The Ghost, as Pirates also affectionately known, could have easily gone into the break four goals up.
In the second half, which never saw any goals but saw lots of interesting opportunities from both sides, was more of a defensive approach from the Buccaneers. Attacking football had mainly switched to the visitors who were relentless in their search for an equaliser but were unfortunate not get it.
