League

Orlando Stadium
Spectators: 7440 (Terracing: 5581, Seating: 1711, VIP seats: 148) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Carlos Ayala got the match started through his kick off. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Juan Guerrero during the 2nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 2 played minutes Orlando Pirates got a freekick which was hit by Juan Guerrero. In the 7th minute Carlos Ayala shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edison Smoothy saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Kryspin Topolski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlos Ayala in the 24th minute of play forced Orlando Pirates's goalkeeper Edison Smoothy to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kryspin Topolski in the 27th minute of play forced Orlando Pirates's goalkeeper Edison Smoothy to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Orlando Pirates's Edison Smoothy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carlos Ayala in the 34th minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The wind increased when Juan Guerrero made the kick off in the second half. Kryspin Topolski could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Edison Smoothy made a huge save. Kryspin Topolski might have been able to make a better finish in the 59th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Edison Smoothy. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kryspin Topolski ran back to his position shaking his head. After 62 played minutes, Deportivo Santa Gilda's Pablo Txema shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Edison Smoothy came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Deportivo Santa Gilda reached it. After 65 played minutes Deportivo Santa Gilda got a freekick which was hit by Leopoldo Ulizes. Esteban Maura hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. A hard shot by Pablo Txema from long distance, 71 minutes into the match, got Edison Smoothy's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. The supporters of Orlando Pirates booed when Deportivo Santa Gilda was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 77 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kryspin Topolski didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Esteban Maura fell near the penalty area in the 87th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Deportivo Santa Gilda's protests and gave Esteban Maura a yellow card for diving instead. Esteban Maura hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. The Orlando Pirates support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.