Orlando Pirates lost more ground on Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns after a 2-0 loss to Marumo Gallants on Saturday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Marumo Gallants 2-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 01 March 2025
Venue: Free State Stadium
Kabelo Dlamini was recalled to the Buccaneers side in place of Patrick Maswanganyi, who suffered an injury in the win over Cape Town City a couple weeks ago.
Gallants, meanwhile, were under new management as Abdeslam Ouaddou took charge of his first game and he decided to recall former Buccaneers forward Gabadinho Mhango in place of Sede Dion.
Ten minutes into the clash, Ouaddou was forced to make his first change as goalkeeper Washington Arubi was forced off with a finger injury and replaced by Kagiso Mlambo, who makes his second appearance of the season.
However, Gallants took the lead on 15 minutes as Mhango grabbed his fourth league goal of the campaign by controlling a long-ball in the box before rifling past Sipho Chaine.
While Pirates struggled to carve out chances, they were lucky not to be a player down when Chaine seemingly kicked out a Gallants player, but he was only showed a yellow card by the referee.
Chaine, however, ensured Gallants only went into the break with one goal as he produced a good save on the line to keep out Junior Zindoga's header at the far post.
The Buccaneers responded with a change immediately after the chance as the young Mohau Nkota was introduced just before the hour mark in place of Bandile Shandu.
With Pirates pushing bodies forward for the equaliser, they were caught out by a Gallants counter attack on 74 minutes as Thalente Mbatha ended up clearing a ball into his own net.
The Limpopo outfit managed to see out the closing stages of the second half to secure a vital win to move up to 13th spot, while Pirates remain in second spot but are 18 points behind Sundowns with four games in hand.
Here's how they lined up:
Marumo Gallants: 36. Arubi, 21. Mabotja, 13. Ncube, 3. Rikhotso, 15. Nemtajela, 22. Msendami, 35. Sikhosana, 26. Sithole, 7. Mhango, 5. Manaka, 9. Zindoga
Subs: 1. K. Mlambo, 25. Mathiane, 50. Nhlapo, 18. Chabatsane, 17. Prins, 8. Mokobodi, 6. Mahlatsi, 33. Dion, 12. Wagaba
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 3. Van Rooyen, 5. Sibisi, 27. Xoki, 26. Shandu, 8. Makhaula, 16. Mbatha, 18. Dlamini, 7. Hotto, 38. Mofokeng, 19. Mabasa
Subs: 34. Buthelezi, 44. Mbokazi, 34. Ndlozi, 33. Nkota, 32. Moleleki, 29. Mako, 20. Mosele, 17. Makgopa, 15. Ndlondlo
