Orlando Pirates begin domestic push with Durban City victory

Orlando Pirates have begun the task of making their three games in hand count after beating Durban City 2-0 in the Betway Premiership on Thursday night.

The result reduced Mamelodi Sundowns’ advantage at the top of the table from seven points to five, with Pirates having played two matches fewer. The victory also marked a return to domestic action after the Soweto club’s recent focus on continental football.

Pirates had been competing in the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers, where they defeated La Cure Waves 3-1 on aggregate to reach the next round.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou welcomed that progress but was unhappy with both the performance and the margin of victory against the island side. He felt Pirates had created enough opportunities to win by a more substantial scoreline, but criticised some attackers for wasting time with showboating.

The Moroccan coach warned that he could stop training, pack his bags and leave the club if his players did not change their approach and begin playing in a more constructive manner.

Assistant coach Rayaan Jacobs had outlined the team’s preparations before the meeting with City at Orlando Amstel Arena.

“The preparations have gone well,” Jacobs told the club’s media unit. “Obviously, we came off a good performance in the CAF Champions League preliminary round. We’ve added that to our calendar. But they have as well, after progressing to the next round of the Confederation Cup qualifiers.”

Pirates had already faced Durban City earlier this season, requiring extra time to secure a 2-1 victory in their MTN8 quarter-final at Orlando Amstel Arena. Their previous encounters last season had also proved difficult, leaving Jacobs expecting another competitive contest.

“We faced them in the MTN8, and it took us 120 minutes to beat them,” he said. “Last season, we struggled against them. We know that they are going to be a tough opponent. They are compact, and they are going to be competitive.”

Jacobs added that City had strengthened their defensive organisation during the current campaign, but insisted Pirates were prepared to meet the challenge.

“They are really tight at the back this season, but for us, the concentration is business as usual,” he said. “We have trained well. We’ve allowed the boys to recover, and we know that we’ve done everything necessary to collect three points at home.”

The latest meeting added to what is becoming an increasingly competitive rivalry between Durban City and Orlando Pirates.