Michael Boxall's solitary strike handed SuperSport United a 1-0 home victory over Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday

Orlando Pirates were aiming to carry their Caf Confederation Cup momentum into the new 2015/16 Absa Premiership campaign when they played SuperSport United away.



The Buccaneers exerted pressure onto the Matsatsantsa defence in the early stages of the encounter, and they nearly broke the deadlock five minutes into game.



Pirates winger Thabo Rakhale's great cross found Menzi Masuku unmarked in the box, and the latter played a good pass to Tendai Ndoro, who blasted the ball over the SuperSport goal-posts.



Matsatsantsa began to see more of the ball after the 15th minute mark. Gordon Igesund's troops forced the Bucs defence to concede two back-to-back corner-kicks.



Bucs goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo pulled off great save from the second corner-kick, denying new United defender Michael Boxall a goal on his Absa Premiership debut.



In the 21st minute, new Pirates striker Ndoro failed to keep his header on target, after connecting well with a good cross from Patrick Phungwayo on the left flank.



But SuperSport responded with a goal immediately at the other end, when David Mathebula's effort from a free-kick was volleyed into the back of the net by Boxall to make it 1-0 to the home side.



Igesund was forced to make a change seven minutes before the interval with injured Mathebula being replaced by hard-tackling midfielder Michael Morton.

SuperSport nearly doubled their nine minutes after the half-time break, but captain Thuso Phala volleyed Dove Wome's cross straight into Bucs shot-stopper Mhlongo's hands.

The game was postponed due to a techincal error with the floodlights in the 62nd minute, and the remaining minutes where played in the following day at 12h00 and at the same venue.

Bucs had been forced to make two changes, with injured duo Rakhale and Mhlongo being replaced by Lehlohonolo Majoro and Felipe Ovono respectiviely.

Pirates started brightly with Phungwayo surging forward and playing the ball into the SuperSport box, and his teammate Issa Sarr headed it straight into Williams' hands.

Matsatsantsa were happy to sit back and protect their lead . In the 74th minute, Bucs striker Kermit Erasmus burst into the SuperSport box, and unleashed a low shot which was parried away by Williams.

SuperSport keeper Williams made great late saves to deny Pirates the equalizer and match referee Daniel Bennett eventually blew the final whistle for full-time, and the home side collected maximum points.