Orlando Pirates kept their Premier Soccer League title hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Golden Arrows in their Betway Premiership clash at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.
he victory gives the Buccaneers a boost of confidence ahead of this weekend’s Nedbank Cup final and trims the gap to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by nine points.
While the Brazilians remain firm favorites for the title, Pirates still have a game in hand to potentially narrow the distance further.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Golden Arrows creating an early opportunity. Siyanda Mthanti, however, saw his attempt thwarted by a solid save from Orlando Pirates’ goalkeeper, Melusi Buthelezi.
The home side then squandered a golden chance to take the lead when Nhlanhla Zwane’s header drifted agonizingly wide, leaving the scoreline blank as the halftime whistle blew.
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The deadlock was finally broken just six minutes after the restart. A well-weighted pass from Kabelo Dlamini found Patrick Maswanganyi in space, and the skillful forward calmly rounded Arrows’ goalkeeper Edward Maova before slotting the ball into the net, giving the Soweto giants a 1-0 lead.
However, Manqoba Mngqithi’s Golden Arrows demonstrated their resilience and leveled the score just ten minutes later. Mthanti atoned for his earlier miss, finding the back of the net to make it 1-1 after an hour of play.
Undeterred, Orlando Pirates showcased their determination and league aspirations by finding the decisive goal in the 72nd minute. Tshegofatso Mabasa unleashed a stunning, crisp volley that soared into the roof of the net, securing a 2-1 victory for the Buccaneers.
This triumph injects significant momentum into the Orlando Pirates camp as they prepare for the Soweto Derby Nedbank Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs, whom they also defeated by the same scoreline the previous weekend.
Conversely, the defeat leaves Golden Arrows in a precarious position, just three points above the relegation playoff spot with six crucial league matches still to play.