Orlando Pirates respond to MTN8 final defeat with win over TS Galaxy

Orlando Pirates recovered from Saturday’s 2-0 MTN8 final defeat by beating TS Galaxy 2-0 in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night.

Boitumelo Radiopane gave the defending league champions the lead before half-time at the Orlando Amstel Arena, scoring his third goal of the season. Tshepang Moremi added a second after the interval to secure all three points against Ira Eliezer Tape’s side.

Pirates had suffered disappointment at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, when they lost to Sundowns and missed the opportunity to win a historic fifth successive MTN8 title.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou had said his team would respond positively and maintained that the defeat could offer valuable lessons. Pirates remain involved in four competitions, with retaining the Betway Premiership title their main priority.

The Buccaneers are also competing in the Nedbank Cup, Carling Knockout and CAF Champions League. Their victory over TS Galaxy came after only two days of rest, making the result important as they seek to establish themselves in the league race and take all three points at Esgodini.

Pirates will now turn their attention to back-to-back CAF Champions League matches against Namibian club African Stars in the second qualifying round.

Ouaddou’s team will play away from home on Saturday in a 3pm kick-off before hosting the return leg at Orlando on Friday, October 23, with that match scheduled to begin at 7pm.

The TS Galaxy fixture was Pirates’ final league match before a major Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs at Esgodini on October 31.

Recovering quickly from the MTN8 final setback will be important for Pirates as they prepare to face their arch-rivals. The result against TS Galaxy offers the champions an immediate boost in their efforts to rebuild confidence before the derby.

In another Betway Premiership match on Tuesday, AmaZulu marked Eric Tinkler’s return with a 2-0 victory over Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium.

Mlondi Mbanjwa and Athini Maqokolo scored in the first half to give AmaZulu a two-goal advantage at the break. Arthur Zwane will have been pleased to see different players contribute to the scoring as his team secured the win against their fellow Durban club.