Orlando Pirates suffered a major blow in their chase for the Betway Premiership title following a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United, falling short to a goal from Tresor Tshibwabwa at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Buccaneers, who came into the encounter on the back of a CAF Champions League exit at the hands of Pyramids of Egypt, are now 12 points behind runaway log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with two games in hand.

The visitors started on the front foot, registering their first corner two minutes before the first whistle. Babina Noko got their second corner in the fifth minute after Mbekezeli Mbokazi cut out Chibuike Ohizu in the flanks for a corner that Sipho Chaine calmly claimed.

With Pirates growing into the game and enjoying a period of dominance on the ball, pinning back the visiting team into their own half, Thalente Mbatha unleashed a powerful low drilled strike which went narrowly wide in the 18th minute.

Five minutes later, Bucs starlet Relebohile Mofokeng fizzed in an inviting ball into the box to find an on-rushing Bandile Shandu, who couldn’t direct the ball on target. Kabelo Dlamini forced Renaldo Leaner into making an excellent save from a direct free kick in the 32nd minute.

Utility player Deon Hotto profited from his high press, forcing the Sekhukhune defense into a mistake, but rushed and released a scuffed shot in the 37th minute before Mbatha, once again from range, tested the visiting shot-stopper, who was equal to the task on the stroke of halftime for a goalless first half.

Two minutes into the second stanza, Mohau Nkota pulled the trigger from a long way out and saw his shot go into row-Z, before Hotto found Evidence Makgopa with a defense-splitting pass, with the striker firing wide in the 48th minute.

From a corner kick three minutes later, Mbokazi found himself unmarked in the box, but showed his inexperience at the opposite end of the pitch as he skied his effort. Fresh from missing from close range, Mbokazi fired one from a long way out in the 56th minute – a shot that didn’t bother the goalkeeper.

Eric Tinkler’s charges got a rare sight of goal as Keletso Makgalwa pulled the strings from the left flank to set up Ngoanamello Rammala, whose shot was blocked by Paseka Mako for a corner. 

The Limpopo-based outfit broke the deadlock through Tshibwabwa, who headed home from Makgalwa’s in a swinging delivery close to the hour mark. It was another set-piece that undid Pirates, having also been punished in the same way against Pyramids.

Keen to stage a comeback, Jose Riveiro turned to Tshegofatso Mabasa, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, and Patrick Maswanganyi in place of Makgopa, Mbatha, and Mako in the 66th minute. 

The Spanish mentor made another substitute, withdrawing Shandu for Siyabonga Ndlozi in the 74th minute.

The Sea Robbers’ misery was compounded when Nkosinathi Sibisi received his second yellow card of the match for an early shower in the 84th minute, as 10-man Bucs switch their focus to the highly anticipated Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday.