Mabasa Scores His 50th Goal As Pirates Beat TS Galaxy

Orlando Pirates secured their fifth consecutive league victory (and eighth across all competitions) by defeating TS Galaxy 2-0 at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday. The crucial win moves the Buccaneers up to third place in the Betway Premiership standings.

Match Summary and Milestones

Tshegofatso Mabasa scored the decisive second goal late in the game, ensuring Pirates collected all three points.

Mabasa’s goal was a significant one: it marked his 50th goal for Pirates. He masterfully guided a header from a Deon Hotto assist after a moment of confusion in the Galaxy defence.

Pirates now sit on 15 points after seven matches, six points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (who have played three more games) and five behind second-place Sekhukhune United (who have played two more games).

Pirates entered the match in eighth place with 12 points from six matches, while Galaxy was sixth with 13 points from seven matches.

Action on the Pitch

Coach Adnan Beganovic’s TS Galaxy was hoping for their first-ever victory over Pirates at Orlando Stadium, a venue where they held the Buccaneers to a 1-1 draw last May—a result that effectively ended Pirates’ league title chase that season.

The Soweto Giants were the first to make a statement. Tshepang Moremi rattled the post with a rapid attack down the left wing. Pirates’ early pressure paid off when they were awarded a penalty after Masindi Nemtajela was fouled in the box by Mlungisi Mbunjana. Referee Siyabulela Qunta immediately pointed to the spot.

Evidence Makgopa confidently converted the penalty for his first league goal of the season. Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Tape guessed correctly and got a hand to the ball, but the shot had too much power.

The action continued quickly into the second half. Just two minutes after the restart, Moremi delivered a tantalizing cross over Tape, but Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lebone Seema collided as they attempted to meet the ball at the back post.

As the contest continued, coach Abdelsam Ouaddou’s Pirates side made changes to increase their tempo. Moremi came close again, shooting into the side-netting. The Rockets put up a tough fight, making the second goal vital for Pirates to kill the game.

Substitute Oswin Appollis nearly set up fellow replacement Mabasa, but Tape sprinted off his line to clear the danger. Hotto also tested the keeper from distance, but Tape palmed the ball away.

Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was called into action late, making a crucial, close-range save from Seluleko Mahlambi (younger brother of Phakamani Mahlambi) following a brilliant pass by Puso Dithejane.

However, the deadlock was broken for the final time when Mabasa, who had replaced goalscorer Makgopa, was left unmarked to head home and beat Tape at the far corner.