Orlando Pirates recorded a third straight win at the start of the 2024-25 Betway Premiership, as they defeated hosts Richards Bay 1-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A sublime late strike from Kabelo Dlamini handed the Buccaneers a sixth successive victory across all competitions and allowed them to join league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on nine points.
As for the Natal Rich Boyz, this second defeat of the league season leaves them in ninth spot on four points from as many matches.
Pirates started confidently, but were perhaps lucky not to be reduced to 10 men as early as the ninth minute, when Thabiso Sesane made up for a slip in defence by essentially rugby tackling Justice Figuareido to the ground when the forward could have run in on goal.
Kabelo Dlamini's heroics give Pirates the win away from home 🫡
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 29, 2024
The Buccaneers maintain their 100% record 💯#BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/DmZHpIK913
Had Dean Van Rooyen not been sprinting across as cover, Sesane would surely have been shown a red card instead of the yellow he was issued.
The Buccaneers recovered from that early scare and dominated the remainder of the first half, though they were unable to break down a stubborn Richards Bay defence which did a brilliant job in sitting deep and protecting goalkeeper Ian Otieno, who had no major saves to make through the first 45 minutes.
The Natal Rich Boyz No 1 was more active in the second stanza, making fine saves in the 52nd and 62nd minutes to keep out goal-bound efforts from Thalente Mbatha and Relebohile Mofokeng respectively.
Bay offered sporadic threats, mainly through the class of Figuareido, and the Eswatini international almost put the hosts ahead against the run of play in the 72nd minute with a driving run and shot which flashed just wide of the target.
Pirates blew a great chance to break the deadlock on 78 minutes: Mofokeng’s powerful drive bounced off Otieno and rolled straight to Deon Hotto, but the Namibian was unable to finish, with the goalkeeper making a desperate save to keep the score at 0-0.
However, the Buccaneers’ persistence was finally rewarded in the 82nd minute, as substitute Kabelo Dlamini scored a superb goal with a strike direct from a free kick – leaving Otieno rooted to the spot and helpless to keep the ball out.
Bay threw on attacking substitutes in response and built up some pressure in the dying minutes, but Pirates were able to hold out and secure all three points.
The teams will return to Premiership action late in October, with Pirates at home to AmaZulu FC and Richards Bay hosting Stellenbosch FC. The Soweto giants, however, will be in action next weekend when they face Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final.
Richards Bay 0
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Dlamini 82’)
R BAY: Otieno, Mabuya, Dube (Kutumela 84’), Allan, Mcineka, Mabua, Ndelu (Mthethwa 46’), Sithebe (Conco 89’), Mhlongo, Figuareido, Sibanyoni (Mbuthuma 84’)
PIRATES: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Sesane (Sibisi 46’), Maela, Hotto, Mbatha (Dlamini 63’), Makhaula, Gilberto (Nkota 77’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng (Mako 90+2’), Mabasa (Makgopa 63’)