It is second playing against third as SuperSport United travel to Orlando Pirates on Saturday for a crucial DStv Premiership clash in the race for the second Caf Champions League place next season.
SuperSport have a five-point lead over their rivals and if they can extend that to eight with seven games left in the season, it could put Pirates pretty much out of the running.
Recent clashes between these sides have been fairly evenly-fought with Pirates edging the head-to-head 4-3 in their last 10 fixtures. Here is a look at those.
ORLANDO PIRATES 2-2 SUPERSPORT UNITED – MTN8
11 August, 2018
SuperSport eventually triumphed 4-3 on penalties in this see-saw MTN8 quarterfinal at the start of the 2018-19 season. Augustine Mulenga put Pirates in front, but goals from Dean Furman and Kermit Erasmus, who will line up for The Buccaneers on Saturday, turned the game in Matsatsantsa’s favour. Gladwin Shitolo equalised for the Soweto side, but Innocent Maela and Thembinkosi Lorch missed in the shootout and SuperSport triumphed.
ORLANDO PIRATES 3-1 SUPERSPORT UNITED – LEAGUE
15 September, 2019
Pirates claimed this league game with two late goals as they romped to victory. Vincent Pule put them in front, but Bongani Khumalo equalised for SuperSport. It looked as though the game would end in a draw until Lorch and Ben Motshwari both scored in the final seven minutes to secure the points for The Buccaneers.
SUPERSPORT UNITED 1-0 ORLANDO PIRATES – LEAGUE
20 February, 2019
SuperSport took this game to Mbombela, the scene of their 6-1 mauling of Pirates a few seasons before, but this time it was settled by a lone Clayton Daniels goal just past the hour-mark after he was teed-up by Aubrey Modiba. Pirates were awarded a penalty, but the unlikely figure of Happy Jele stepped up to take it and his weak effort was saved by Ronwen Williams.
SUPERSPORT UNITED 3-0 ORLANDO PIRATES – LEAGUE
14 August, 2019
Back to the Mbombela Stadium and another victory for SuperSport, this time by a more empathic scoreline. Bradley Grobler, who does love a goal against Pirates, netted a brace with goals either side of halftime before Gamphani Lungu added the third. For Grobler it was a hattrick of sorts as he provided the assist.
ORLANDO PIRATES 2-1 SUPERSPORT UNITED – LEAGUE
August 2019, 2020
Pirates got back to winning ways in the fixture as they took the lead through Pule but were level at the break when Luke Fleurs was the unlikely scorer for SuperSport. Zakhele Lepasa, who is on loan at SuperSport for the remainder of this season, put Pirates back in front. Grobler spurned the opportunity to equalise when he missed his penalty soon afterwards.
ORLANDO PIRATES 2-1 SUPERSPORT UNITED – LEAGUE
21 November, 2020
An early goal from Teboho Mokoena has SuperSport in front away from home, but Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa proved the difference in the second half as they ultimately gave Pirates the three points. The first was from the penalty-spot by Lepasa. Maybe Matsatsantsa only signed him to stop Lepasa scoring against them!
SUPERSPORT UNITED 3-0 ORLANDO PIRATES – LEAGUE
24 February, 2021
Pule scored again against SuperSport to put Pirates in front at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, but that early goal was cancelled out just past the hour-mark. Ben Motshwari put the ball into his own net as SuperSport earned a point.
ORLANDO PIRATES 3-2 SUPERSPORT UNITED – LEAGUE
16 March, 2022
A hugely-entertaining contest full of drama as SuperSport raced into a 2-0 lead but then could not hold on. Kegan Johannes and Lungu looked to have set them on their way to victory, but astonishingly Pirates were awarded two penalties in first-half injury-time which were both converted by Deon Hotto. Still, it looked as though Matsatsantsa would hold on for a good away point, but Goodman Mosele netted a 94th-minute winner for the home side in one of the best games of the season.
SUPERSPORT UNITED 2-0 ORLANDO PIRATES – LEAGUE
30 May, 2022
The final game of last season proved a good one for SuperSport as they triumphed 2-0 against the 10-men of Pirates, who had Jele sent to the stands for a straight red card on 66 minutes. They were already behind to a Fortune Makaringe own goal at that stage, and matters got worse when Jele’s push on former teammate Thamsanqa Gabuza meant a red card and a penalty. Richard Ofori saved Lungu’s first effort but had stepped off his line and the Zambian converted from his second go. The win ensured a top-eight finish for SuperSport.
SUPERSPORT UNITED 0-0 ORLANDO PIRATES – LEAGUE
21 August, 2022
The reverse fixture this season ended in a rather tame 0-0 draw the first time these teams have finished scoreless since 2018.