Appollis and Moremi fire Orlando Pirates to winning Betway Premiership start

The Buccaneers controlled much of the contest and deserved all three points thanks to goals from Oswin Appollis in the first half and Tshepang Moremi late in the second.

Pirates started on the front foot but had to remain alert at the back as Sipho Chaine produced early saves to deny Khanyisani Radebe and Cebolenkosi Mthethwa from long range.

The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute. After Milford conceded a free kick in a dangerous position, Appollis struck a superb right-footed effort from outside the penalty area that flew into the bottom-right corner to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Pirates nearly doubled their advantage before the break when Lebone Seema headed narrowly wide from Deon Hotto's corner, while Milford's best response came through Olwethu Cele, whose long-range effort sailed over the crossbar.

Milford made a change at half-time in search of a way back into the game, but Pirates continued to create the better chances after the restart.

Thalente Mbatha fired over early in the second half before Chaine was called into action again, comfortably saving efforts from Khanyisani Radebe and Sicelo Masilela. At the other end, Milford goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza kept his side in the contest with good saves to deny Deon Hotto, Patrick Maswanganyi and later Kabelo Kgositsile.

Pirates were dealt a setback when Maswanganyi picked up an injury and was forced off with 15 minutes remaining, but the home side maintained control.

Their persistence was rewarded five minutes from time. A swift counter-attack carved open the Milford defence and substitute Lebone Seema squared the ball for Moremi, who calmly finished from close range to seal the victory.

Milford pushed forward in the closing stages but could not find a way past the Pirates defence, with Chaine comfortably dealing with the visitors' final attempts before the referee brought the match to an end.

The result gives Orlando Pirates a winning start to the new Betway Premiership season, while Milford begin their campaign with defeat.

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