Orlando Pirates thrashed Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-0 in a Betway Premiership match played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday night, giving coach Jose Riveiro the perfect send-off.
The win saw the Buccaneers remain second in the league standings - reducing runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns' lead to 12 points, but the latter need just one point to clinch the title.
Pirates, who have two games in hand, will play host to TS Galaxy on Saturday
The Jose Riveiro era comes to an end 🎬#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/tIUrBh4yPA
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 13, 2025
Abafana Bes'thende, on the other hand, remained 14th in the standings, just three points above the relegation playoff spot.
Arrows will be desperate for a victory when they take on Richards Bay away on Saturday in the KwaZulu-Natal derby.
The Buccaneers attacked the Abafana Bes'thende's defence with speed from wide areas and they broke the deadlock in the 16th minute after some great work by Relebohile Mofokeng, whose pass found Tshegofatso Mabasa to make it 1-0 to Pirates.
It was nearly 2-0 to Pirates in the 19th minute when flying full-back Bandile Shandu hit the upright with a deflected shot.
However, Arrows did threaten in the 23rd minute when Nduduzo Sibiya hit the woodwork with a sublime curling effort and Pirates were leading 1-0 at halftime after containing Arrows.
A second half that was dominated by the Buccaneers followed as Deon Hotto made it 2-0 with a hard and low shot in the 61st minute, beating Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Ismail Watenga at the near post, with the problematic Mofokeng providing his second assist of the match.
Pirates' 3-0 victory over Arrows was sealed by Kabelo Dlamini, who beat Watenga with a top-class free-kick which curled into the far post in the 66th minute, much to the delight of the Bucs fans inside the iconic stadium in what was coach Riveiro's farewell match.
Jose Riveiro's final message to the Orlando Pirates fans 🥹🎙️#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/9tIsI8Mut3
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 13, 2025
Pirates (1) 3 (Mabasa 16', Hotto 61', Dlamini 66')
Arrows (0) 0