GOAL runs the rule over the individual performances of the Bucs stars.
Orlando Pirates Player Ratings: Ofori sparkles and Nyauza shaky against Simba SC
BackpagepixRichard Ofori - 7.5/10
Great performance between the sticks.
Ofori made eye-catching saves throughout the game - keeping Simba at bay, while also dominating his area.
Deserved a clean sheet, but he was unlucky to concede from the penalty kick.Backpagepix
Bandile Shandu - 5.5/10
Tormented by Pape Ousmane Sacko in the first half.
Shandu rarely pushed forward with the dribbling wizard keeping him busy, but he ventured forward towards the end of the game which saw him force goalkeeper Aishi Manula into a late save.
BackpagepixInnocent Maela - 6/10
Replaced Paseka Mako in the starting line-up.
Maela didn't offer much going forward, but he was solid defensively as he made solid tackles to stop Bernard Morrison, who moved into a central role.
He also won his aerial duels.
BackpagepixHappy Jele - 5.5/10
Solid in defence and vocal as he organised his defence.
However, Jele was unlucky to concede a controversial penalty even though he had made contact with the ball first before Morrison went down.
Also had to step in to cover his centre defence partner Nyauza.
BackpagepixNtsikelelo Nyauza - 4.5/10
Looked shaky at the heart of the defence.
Nyauza failed to neutralise Crispin Mugalu, who bullied him and the Bucs defender's positioning was also questionable when Bucs were defending.Backpagepix
Thabang Monare - 6.5/10
Excelled in his role as a holding midfield.
Monare held onto the ball well and made excellent distributions while looking good defensively too.Backpagepix
Goodman Mosele - 5.5/10
Worked hard in midfield.
Mosele tried to connect the midfield with the attack with his forward runs, but his passes were poor at times in the hosts' half.
BackpagepixSiphesihle Ndlovu - 5/10
Operated on the right side of the Bucs midfield.
Ndlovu didn't make much of an impact going forward and he failed to deliver good crosses which led to his substitution after the hour-mark.Backpagepix
Kabelo Dlamini - 4.5/10
Struggled to make an impact on the night.
Dlamini lost many balls in the final third when Bucs were attacking and he was substituted at half-time.
BackpagepixDeon Hotto - 6.5/10
A thorn in Simba's side having been Bucs' standout attacker this term.
Hotto made important recoveries in attacking areas, while also delivering quality crosses into the opposition's box and one of them was saved by Manula.Backpagepix
Kwame Peprah - 6/10
Unsettled the Simba defence with his imposing physique.
Peprah deserves credit for his pressing game which had the hosts on the ropes, but chances didn't fall for him in the box.
BackpagepixFortune Makaringe - 6/10
Injected some much-needed energy into Bucs' midfield after coming in at half-time and he took shots at goal with one of them being saved by Manula.
BackpagepixAbel Mabaso - 6/10
Replaced Ndlovu with 16 minutes left and helped his side keep the ball better in midfield.
Backpagepix.Zakhele Lepasa - 5/10
Rarely touched the ball after he came on in the 77th minute.



