Orlando Pirates kept pace with the Betway Premiership leaders after securing a 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening
Early goals in each half from Deon Hotto and Makhehlene Makhaula made it back-to-back wins for Jose Riveiro's side, although they failed to keep a clean sheet after Linda Mntambo halved the deficit on 77 minutes.
The Buccaneers remain six points behind table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns in second place, with a game in hand, and Babina Noko are unmoved in fourth position, five points adrift of Polokwane City.
☠️ FT | @SekhukhuneFc 1 - 2 @orlandopirates
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) February 5, 2025
🥅 Hotto 5', Makhaula 47'
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#BetwayPrem#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/2draqGXF1x
Lehlohonolo Seema's side were seeking their first win in three matches, having played out to a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch most recently, while Pirates looked to build on their 1-0 win over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the first Soweto derby of the season.
The visitors got off to a flying start when Hotto opened the scoring from a direct free-kick in the fifth minute after Patrick Maswanganyi went down under a crunching tackle just outside the box.
Deon Hotto strikes early for Orlando Pirates ☠️💥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 5, 2025
𝟏𝟐' 𝐒𝐞𝐤𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟎-𝟏 𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
14' SuperSport Utd 0-1 Sundowns
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc @McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/gp1tKFwMy1
Pirates were soon threatening again as Relebohile Mofokeng latched onto a diagonal pass from the right and tested Badra Ali Sangare with a shot on 12 minutes.
Maswanganyi then volleyed wide in the 22nd minute after being picked out by Hotto's cutback pass before Sipho Mbule wasted a good chance to equalise soon afterwards from a direct free-kick that cleared the crossbar.
Keletso Makgalwa tried his luck from range on 33 minutes after cutting inside from the flank, but Sipho Chaine was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
It remained 1-0 at the break, but Bucs fans were celebrating again moments after the restart when Makhaula pounced on slack defending from the hosts to convert Hotto's cross in the 47th minute.
Maswanganyi should have made it 3-0 on 54 minutes after a loose ball fell perfectly for him inside the area, only to drag his shot wide of goal.
Evidence Makgopa did well to shake off his marker on 68 minutes before drawing a save out of Sangare from the right, although the hosts gave themselves hope with 13 minutes left on the clock as Mntambo pulled one back.
Mofokeng nearly restored Pirates' two-goal cushion on 82 minutes with a low strike that was expertly saved by Sangare, while Chaine was called into action twice in the space of two minutes to deny Babina Noko an equaliser.
☠️ 🤴🏾 Man of the Match | Makhehleni Makhaula @SekhukhuneFc 1 - 2 @orlandopirates
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) February 5, 2025
🥅 Hotto 5', Makhaula 47'
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay #BetwayPrem #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/DXXGDPSdDx
Sekhukhune United (0) 1 (Mntambo 77')
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Hotto 5', Makhaula 47')
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED: B. Sangare, A. Ngakosso-Oko, T. Tshibwabwa, K. Mohamme, E. Rammala (T. Mokoane 60'), V. Letlapa, T. Monare, K. Makgalwa, S. Mbule, P. Mahlangu (L. Mntambo 60'), A. Boyeli (C. Ohizu 60').
ORLANDO PIRATES: S. Chaine, D. van Rooyen (S. Rasebotja 86'), T. Sesane (T. Xoki 18'), N. Sibisi, P. Mako, T. Mbatha (K. Dlamini 86'), M. Makhaula, D. Hotto (B. Shandu 69'), P. Maswanganyi, R. Mofokeng, T. Mabasa (E. Makgopa 46').