Oswin Appollis the hero as Pirates edge past Siwelele

Orlando Pirates extended their winning run in the Betway Premiership to four consecutive matches on Tuesday night, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Siwelele FC at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The result was sealed by a late strike from substitute Oswin Appollis, who proved to be the decisive figure in a game defined by a resilient defensive effort from the hosts.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made only two changes to the side that featured in the weekend’s CAF Champions League clash, bringing in Patrick Maswanganyi and Kamogelo Sebelebele to add fresh legs to the midfield. Meanwhile, the home side, Siwelele, made a number of adjustments following their recent defeat to Magesi, with Keabetswe Khonyane and Vincent Pule among those recalled to the starting eleven.

The first half was a tactical battle, with both sides cautious in their approach. Pirates enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but struggled to break down a well-organised Siwelele defence. The home side, however, carved out the best chances of the opening period. Midway through the half, Gape Moralo delivered a superb cross to find an unmarked Chibuike Ohizu in the box, but the Nigerian striker sent his header just wide of the mark.

On the stroke of halftime, a defensive error nearly gifted Siwelele the lead, but former Pirates winger Vincent Pule could only fire a tame shot directly at goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.

SUBSTITUTE APPOLLIS BREAKS DEADLOCK TO SINK OPPOSITION

With the score locked at 0-0 at the interval, Ouaddou made a bold double substitution at the start of the second half, introducing both Oswin Appollis and Cemran Dansin to inject urgency into the attack. The changes quickly paid dividends as Appollis began to influence the game’s tempo. Just before the hour mark, he linked up with Relebohile Mofokeng, who carved out space in the box before sending his effort narrowly wide.

While both sides traded substitutions in an effort to break the deadlock, it was Appollis who would ultimately have the final say. With just 11 minutes remaining on the clock, the substitute collected a crucial pass from striker Evidence Makgopa on the edge of the box. Displaying composure and precision, Appollis fired a low shot past goalkeeper Ricardo Goss and into the bottom corner, securing the maximum points for the Buccaneers.

The late goal was the only difference in a tightly contested affair, extending Pirates’ dominant run in the league and providing a crucial boost as they continue their pursuit of the title.

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