Second-Half Blitz Sees Pirates Down Durban City At Orlando
Orlando Pirates moved within striking distance of the top of the Betway Premiership standings after securing a convincing 2-0 victory over Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena on Thursday evening.
The Buccaneers struck twice in the second half through Lebone Seema and Tshepang Moremi to claim all three points and cement second place on the log.
Pirates now sit on 16 points—just four behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (20 points)—with two games in hand, having played six matches compared to Sundowns’ eight.
Both sides started on the front foot, creating several scoring opportunities during an entertaining opening 45 minutes, though neither could find a breakthrough before the interval.
Durban City squandered the best chance of the first half on the stroke of halftime when forward Jean Lubumba found himself one-on-one with Sipho Chaine. However, the newly appointed Bafana Bafana vice-captain produced a brilliant save to deny Lubumba, demonstrating once again why he is the reigning Betway Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season.
Pirates emerged from the break with renewed intensity and were rewarded in the 57th minute when Seema rose inside the six-yard box to head home Kabelo Kgositsile’s well-delivered corner. The header marked Seema’s third goal of the season and handed the Buccaneers full momentum.
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side continued to press and soon doubled their lead through Moremi. Set up by Simphiwe Masilela, Moremi steered the ball home with his weaker right foot inside the box, clipping the inside of the post on its way in.
Pirates comfortably controlled the remainder of the contest, giving Durban City little room to mount a comeback as the match ended 2-0.
The win capped a successful return to domestic league action following a two-week hiatus, during which Pirates advanced through the CAF Champions League first preliminary round.
The Buccaneers now turn their focus to Sunday’s league clash against Marumo Gallants in Rustenburg, before the domestic season pauses for the FIFA international break, where several Pirates stars are set to join Bafana Bafana for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
