Pirates Beat Richards Bay To Reclaim Betway Premiership Top Spot
Orlando Pirates returned to the summit of the Betway Premiership after Evidence Makgopa converted a late penalty to seal a 2-0 victory over Richards Bay at Orlando Amstel Arena on Wednesday night.
Pirates had seen Mamelodi Sundowns move to the top of the table on Tuesday after beating Orbit College FC, meaning the Buccaneers needed a two-goal victory in Soweto to reclaim first place.
The result saw the Soweto giants draw level with Sundowns on 47 points after 20 matches played.
Richards Bay arrived in Soweto hoping to complete a rare double over a Soweto giant after defeating Kaizer Chiefs at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex last week.
The match began cautiously, but Pirates’ crisp passing eventually unlocked the KwaZulu-Natal side. In the 27th minute, Relebohile Mofokeng delivered a precise through ball to release Kamogelo Sebelebele, who squared the ball for Oswin Appollis to finish comfortably.
Sebelebele impressed on the night after missing Pirates’ previous win over Polokwane City FC due to suspension.
Appollis nearly doubled the lead shortly afterwards when he unleashed a powerful strike, while former Richards Bay striker Yanela Mbuthuma — now at Pirates — attempted to redirect the effort with a header, but the ball drifted wide.
Pirates knew a single goal would not be enough to return to the top of the standings, with the title race between them and Sundowns having swung back and forth throughout the season.
Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou made two changes just after the hour mark, withdrawing Mbuthuma and Patrick Maswanganyi for Tshepang Moremi and Makgopa.
The match lost some of its rhythm as play became scrappy in midfield, but Richards Bay had a golden chance to equalise when Luyanda Khumalo beat Nkosinathi Sibisi. Instead of shooting, however, the youngster attempted a cross that Pirates managed to clear.
The Richards Bay technical bench reacted in frustration, believing Khumalo should have gone for goal.
Moments later, Mofokeng nearly doubled Pirates’ lead with a long-range effort that rattled the woodwork.
Richards Bay’s bench made another change, replacing Sanele Barns — who scored the winner at this venue during the 2023/24 season — with Wandile Ngema.
As the match wore on, Pirates appeared under pressure as Richards Bay pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
However, deep into stoppage time, referee Masixole Bambiso awarded Pirates a penalty after debutant Nashixwa Tuli fouled Moremi inside the box.
Makgopa stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick to secure the victory and send Pirates back to the top of the Betway Premiership standings.
