Kabelo Dlamini came off the bench to score the only goal of the game as Orlando Pirates beat Richards Bay 1-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium eMlazi, Durban on Sunday afternoon.
Pirates, who have won three in a row in the league, drew level on points with Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 a day earlier.
While the game on Saturday was an exciting, end-to-end affair, Sunday’s clash in Durban was a more low-key affair, with a few real opportunities.
☠️ FT |@RichardsBayFC_ 0- 1 @orlandopirates
Pirates’ resilience yields a crucial three points away from home.
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#BetwayPrem #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/cmuOYdTypR
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 29, 2024
After a quiet first half that featured very little to write home about, the game came to life — sort of — in the second half.
Bafana star Thalente Mbatha nearly put Pirates in front five minutes after the break, but he dragged his effort from distant just wide of the upright.
In a quiet match, the first real chance of the game for the home side only came in the 57th minute when Eswatini striker Justice Figuareido’s shot required an acrobatic save from Sipho Chaine.
Jose Riveiro praises the attitude of his Buccaneers 👏
The focus shifts to the MTN8 final on Saturday ➡️@Betway_za pic.twitter.com/jubD8tFUZc
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 29, 2024
Just past the hour mark, Relebohile Mofokeng nearly put Pirates in front after his shot following a mazy run was kept out brilliantly by Ian Otieno in the Richards Bay goal.
With 12 minutes of regulation remaining, Otieno was called into action again after he could only parry Mofokeng’s stinging shot into the path of Deon Hotto. Unfortunately for the Bucaneers, the Namibian international fired his rebound straight at the feet of Otieno and the score remained 0-0.
The game, though, was starting to swing Pirates’ way as they created more opportunities.
All that pressure eventually paid off when Pirates eventually found the back of the net in the 82nd minute when Kabelo Dlamini curled a brilliant free kick into the back of Otieno’s net to make it 1-0.
Dlamini’s strike proved to be the winner as the Natal Rich Boyz were unable to test Chaine in the dying minutes.
Chippa United get the job done against TS Galaxy in Gqeberha
At the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Ayabulela Maqwaka’s 54th minute goal was enough to see Chippa United claim all three points from their game against TS Galaxy.
FT:
🌶️ x 🚀
Chilli Boys 2:1 @TSGALAXYFC pic.twitter.com/oN1csnkAqI
— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) September 29, 2024
The home side had gone ahead on the half hour mark through Bienvenu Eva Nga, but Galaxy were able to pull one back five minutes from half time when Bosnian Dzenan Zajmovic pulled one back.
After Maqwaka scored, TS Galaxy couldn’t find their way back into the game, and Chippa claimed the victory.
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