Orlando Pirates struck late in the second half to secure a 1-0 win over Richards Bay to maintain their winning start in the Betway Premiership on Sunday.
Betway Premiership
Result: Richards Bay 0-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 29 September 2024
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Pirates made three changes following their thumping win over Polokwane City, as Gilberto, Makhehlene Makhaula and Innocent Maela were brought in.
The game got off to a quick start, as the Buccaneers were met by a strong resistance from the Natal Rich Boyz in the early exchanges.
LIVE: Follow the action between Richards Bay and Pirates
Jose Riveiro's charges started to build momentum after the first quarter of an hour and were asking questions of Richards Bay but without yet troubling goalkeeper Ian Otieno.
In a physical game, the Soweto giants looked to make their possession count from successive set-pieces, but they could not capitalize and had to fend off counter-attacks from Brandon Truter's troops.
The visitors eventually had a shot at goal shortly before the interval after Deon Hotto was denied by Otieno.
The KwaZulu-Natal side had a chance to head to the break with a narrow lead after Thabang Sibanyoni found himself in a good position from a transition attack but his left-footed shot missed just wide.
The KwaZulu-Natal side had a chance to head to the break with a narrow lead after Thabang Sibanyoni found himself in a good position from a transition attack but his left-footed shot missed just wide.
The sides took time to get going from the break, as the first chance from interval, just before the hour-mark, fell kindly to Richards Bay striker Justice Figuareido, whose shot in the box produced a good save from shot-stopper Sipho Chaine.
Pirates had a wake-up call as moments later Relebohile Mofokeng also had a good chance after he went through in the box but his shot was saved by Otieno.
Riveiro eventually made a double attacking change just after that as Kabelo Dlamini and Evidence Makgopa both replaced Thalente Mbatha and Mabasa to take the game to their hosts.
The Soweto giants gained momentum after that and were unfortunate, 13 minutes before time, as Hotto was denied by Otieno unmarked in the box from a rebound after the Kenyan had repelled a shot from Mofokeng.
However, Dlamini finally broke the deadlock for the visitors in the last seven minutes with a well taken free-kick that curled over the wall and found the far corner.
The Buccaneers had to absorb the pressure in the dying minutes as they held on to their third successive win.
Here's how they lined up:
Richards Bay: 1. Otieno, 5. Allan, 25. Mcineka, 99. Dube, 72. Mabua, 22. Mabuya, 21. Mhlongo, 14. Sithebe, 35. Ndelu, 23. Figareido, 34. Sibanyoni
Subs:16. Magoola, 11. Kutumela, 2. Gcaba, 6. Mthethwa, 3. Ndaba, 18. S.Dube, 77. Conco, 19. Buthelezi, 9. Mbuthuma
Orlando Pirates: 34. Chaine, 7. Hotto, 3. Van Rooyen, 36. Sesane, 23. Maela, 8. Makhaula, 16. Mbatha, 28. Maswanganyi, 11. Gilberto, 38. Mofokeng, 19. Mabasa
Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 33. Nkota, 32. Moleleki, 31. Rasebotja, 29. Mako, 25. Kimvuidi, 18. Dlamini, 17. Makgopa, 5. Sibisi
