Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa revealed that the team’s recent consecutive defeats served as powerful motivation in their thrilling 2-1 victory against Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s Betway Premiership clash at a packed FNB Stadium.

Despite falling behind early to a Glody Lilepo goal for the Chiefs, the Buccaneers displayed remarkable resilience. Makgopa himself leveled the score, and rising star Relebohile Mofokeng secured the winning goal in front of a fervent crowd at the Calabash.

This hard-fought win sees Pirates maintain their second position in the league standings with 49 points, as they continue their pursuit of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who currently hold 61 points.

An elated Makgopa, named Man of the Match for his impactful performance in the derby, lauded his team’s unwavering spirit and determination after conceding the early goal.

“What I can say is that today we didn’t give up, although they managed to score an early goal,” Makgopa stated after their win via Pirates media.

“We thought of our back-to-back losses, so it was a must to win today’s game because we have important upcoming games.”

He further emphasized the collective effort, saying, “I’m happy with my teammates’ performance; they didn’t give up after the Chiefs scored. We had to win today’s game to stand a better chance in our upcoming games.”

This league victory marks the second time this season that the Sea Robbers have defeated Amakhosi. The Soweto giants are set to clash again in the highly anticipated Nedbank Cup final next weekend at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Prior to the Nedbank Cup final, Orlando Pirates will aim to sustain their winning momentum when they face Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday at 19:30.