Tinkering Tinkler’s Orlando Pirates entrenched in bottom half after loss to Stars
Any thoughts of Orlando Pirates cementing a top eight spot received a setback when fiery Free State Stars beat them 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at Goble Park in the Free State last night. Bustling striker Ayanda Nkosi scored Stars' 79th-minute winner.Stars jumped from 12th to seventh place on the log, whereas Bucs slid down to 11th position.Bucs coach Eric Tinkler, known as "Tinkering Tinkler" , made three changes to the team that went down to Mamelodi Sundowns last week.Thabo Matlaba returned from suspension and replaced Ntsikelelo Nyauza at right-back, and in midfield, Lehlohonolo Masalesa and Gift Motupa came in for Yassar Mugerwa and injured Sifiso Myeni respectively.Stars' Italian coach, Giovanni Solinas, opted for young blood, dropping established players such as Katlego Mashego, Robert Sankara and Angelo Kerspuy following the weekend's 1-0 defeat by Jomo Cosmos.Nhlanhla Vilakazi, Sello Jaftha, Nkosi and Reuben Thebakang were the four who came in.Pirates could have made life easier for themselves had they converted a string of chances they created in the first half.Stars had shown signs of their potential in the first half. Having held Bucs, they came out more confident and with better structure in the second.They got a deserved winner as Nkosi got on the end of Danny Venter's chip to head past Brighton Mhlongo...
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