Pirates close the gap on Sundowns with victory over Durban City

Orlando Pirates kept the pressure on Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a 2-0 win over Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Thursday night.

Second-half goals from Lebone Seema and Tshepang Moremi secured three points for the defending champions after City had frustrated them for much of the opening period.

The result leaves Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side with 16 points from six league matches, four behind Sundowns, who have 20 points from eight games. Pirates also have two matches in hand on the African champions as the early title race begins to develop.

AmaZulu are third with 13 points from six matches, followed by Kaizer Chiefs on 12. Sekhukhune United complete the top five with eight points from six outings.

Pirates were returning to domestic action after two successive weekends in the CAF Champions League. They defeated Mauritian champions La Cure Waves 3-1 on aggregate in the first preliminary round, but faced a more stubborn challenge from Durban City.

Thursday’s game was the third meeting between the sides this season, and City again proved difficult to unlock. The visitors created some of the better chances in a competitive first half, leaving Pirates unable to turn their possession into a lead before the interval.

Ouaddou’s team increased the tempo after the restart, with Simphiwe Selepe, Moremi and Kabelo Kgositsile giving the attack greater energy. Yanela Mbuthuma offered a central target as Pirates began to sustain pressure in the final third.

That pressure was rewarded when Seema rose to meet a corner and headed powerfully past the City defence to end the deadlock.

Pirates doubled their advantage less than 10 minutes later. Moremi ran on to a pass from Simphiwe Masilela and calmly finished with his weaker right foot, guiding the ball beyond Frederick Asare.

Asare had produced an impressive display before the two goals, but the quick succession of strikes left Durban City with too much to recover. Pirates then controlled possession and managed the closing stages without allowing their opponents a route back into the match.

The victory means Pirates have won five and drawn one of their six Premiership fixtures. Mbuthuma’s appearance came on the same day that national coach Pitso Mosimane named the striker in his first 30-man Bafana Bafana squad.

South Africa begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Guinea on 26 September and Eritrea four days later. They will then play Egypt in a friendly on 4 October.

Before the international break, Pirates travel to Marumo Gallants on Sunday, 20 September. Their next major fixture is the MTN8 final against Sundowns on 10 October.

Pirates will then visit Namibia to play African Stars on 17 October in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary-round tie. The return match is scheduled for 24 October, with qualification for the group stages at stake.