Orlando Pirates outmuscled Durban City to go top of the Betway Premiership standings when they claimed a 2-0 win in their clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The three points earned through the victory placed the Soweto Giants three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns with both teams sitting on 12 games played this season. It was also their 10th league outing without defeat and a crucial away win in what was their last Premiership fixture in 2025.
Returning to the coast for one last time before the festive season break, Pirates endured early pressure from their hosts who had a succession of set pieces in dangerous areas. The Bucs goal was however not threatened with only the second of the home side’s chances yielding their best chance at goal early on when Mfanafuthi Mkhize rose high to meet a corner only to direct his effort wide.
Playing against a strong Durban wind, the Buccaneers were made to toil in their attempts to push themselves to the other end of the pitch and rarely entered the opposition half throughout the opening 20 minutes.
While mostly struggling for rhythm, they were able to edge ahead inside the opening quarter. This was through some excellent link-up play between Nkosikhona Ndaba and Relebohile Mofokeng on the flank, with the latter finding striker Evidence Makgopa who did not err in netting his second league in the space of a week.
A few sloppy passes at the back nearly aided the Citizens’ efforts to claw their way. One such pass was gathered by Bokang Mokwena who had time to compose himself for a shot only to send it well off target. The home side continued to endure a frustrating half despite some bright moments as the Buccaneers hung on to take their slim lead into the break.
With the wind in their back at the start of the second period, Pirates were able to work up some forward momentum. They had a close call five minutes from the restart when Tshepang Moremi’s volley from the edge of the box had to be parried away by goalkeeper Darren Keet who got a crucial touch to send it out for a corner.
Second half sub Oswin Appollis went just inches close to finding the visitors’ second when he was played in by Thalente Mbatha, but his left-footed effort was hooked wide of goal.
That turned out to be mere moments before the Buccaneers could extend their lead, doing so through a brilliant team goal finished off by Patrick Maswanganyi who was unmarked inside the box following a lovely move involving Nkosikhona Ndaba and Appollis.
Now trailing by two, City did not sit back and launched a few attacks of their own inside the final 10 minutes. The best of these was through midfielder Kyle Jurgens who launched a dangerous-looking low shot, stopped a diving Sipho Chaine.
Pirates had opportunities of their own in their attempts to further extend their lead, with Mofokeng drawing a save off Keet before looking to set up replacement striker Yanela Mbuthuma who poked his effort wide from close range. They finished the game with a one-man advantage following the sending off of Siphamandla Ncanana, who received a second booking in the match.
There wasn’t enough time on the clock to make the numerical superiority count with the earlier goals from the Buccaneers eventually proving enough to secure a much-needed victory, their ninth in the league this season, thanks to another clinical performance on the road.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Lebitso (Van Rooyen 88’), Ndaba, Mbatha, Nemtajela (Makhaula 46’), Maswanganyi (Dlamini 78’), Mofokeng, Moremi (Appollis 65’), Makgopa (Mbuthuma 65’)
