Pirates Go Top Of Table After Beating Durban City
Orlando Pirates moved to the summit of the Betway Premiership table after beating Durban City 2-0 in front of a healthy crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The Soweto giants, who are chasing their first league title since the 2011/12 season, are now three points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns, sitting on 28 points after 12 matches.
However, Sundowns, now second on the table, have a chance to reclaim top spot when they visit Siwelele on Tuesday.
Should Sundowns win that match, Pirates will not be able to regain first place this week as their fixture against Richards Bay at home has been postponed.
The postponement is to afford Pirates sufficient preparation time ahead of their Carling Knockout Cup final against Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium next Saturday.
City faced an uphill battle against Pirates, who came into this match as one of the league’s in-form teams and were aiming to avoid becoming only the third side to lose to Durban City this season.
Pirates have been in strong form, having last lost a league match in August—also against Gallants—which was their second defeat of the season after opening with another loss to Sekhukhune United.
While doubts were rightly raised about City’s chances, Pirates proved once again that they are a different beast this season, with this latest victory taking them to the top of the standings.
Pirates welcomed back powerful defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who had missed the midweek clash against Chippa United.
Over the weekend, news broke that Mbokazi was in the United States to finalise a move to Chicago Fire, who are reported to have tabled a R51 million offer.
Uncharacteristically, Mbokazi almost cost his team early on when he was dispossessed by Samkelo Maseko, with City nearly capitalising.
Gavin Hunt’s City side started brightly, putting Pirates under sustained pressure and exposing Mbokazi’s early shakiness.
However, Pirates made the most of their first clear chance, with Evidence Makgopa heading into an empty net after a clever pass from Relebohile Mofokeng.
The goal gave Pirates confidence as they began to dominate possession in City’s half.
The second goal nearly arrived in the 60th minute when City goalkeeper Darren Keet attempted to shield the ball out for a goal-kick, only for Makgopa to keep it in play.
With Keet stranded near the corner flag and the goalmouth unguarded, Makgopa attempted a shot, but City defenders scrambled back to clear, sparing the goalkeeper’s blushes.
City then suffered a setback when a clearance from Mbokazi struck Joslin Kamatuka in the face. The City forward was left dazed and had to be stretchered off, leaving players and spectators visibly concerned.
Pirates were not denied their second, though. Impact substitute Oswin Appollis set up Patrick Maswanganyi, and the former PSL Players’ Player of the Season calmly side-footed home in the 77th minute.
By then, City were being pulled apart by a Pirates team that looks determined to challenge for the league title—one that Sundowns have dominated for the past eight seasons.
