Orlando Pirates secured a narrow 1-0 away win over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Wednesday evening.
The Buccaneers secured the victory thanks to a goal in first-half injury time by Nkosinathi Sibisi and the result saw them remain in second place and close the gap to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (who were held 1-1 at Golden Arrows) to 16 points (with four games in hand).
☠️ FT | @ChippaUnitedFC 0 - 1 @orlandopirates
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) March 5, 2025
🥅 Sibisi 45+2'
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/NIsGHQossJ
As for the Chilli Boys, this was a ninth loss in 19 league matches this season and saw them remain in ninth place – six points off the top half of the table.
Chippa offered the first threat on goal, with Giovanni Philander whipping a shot from a free kick just wide of the mark on five minutes.
Pirates, though, soon found their passing rhythm and began to create chances.
The first notable effort came from Kabelo Dlamini, who met a low cross from the left and sent a curling shot just wide of the target in the 16th minute.
Striker Tshegofatso Mabasa endured a frustrating time in the final 15 minutes of the first half as he twice got himself in promising scoring positions, but was denied both times by saves from Chippa’s Stanley Nwabali.
However, the Chilli Boys goalkeeper was finally beaten in injury time before the break as a corner kick from Relebohile Mofokeng was glanced home with a perfectly-time header from Sibisi.
☠️ 🤴🏾 Man of the Match | Nkosinathi Sibisi
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) March 5, 2025
FT | @ChippaUnitedFC 0 - 1 @orlandopirates
🥅 Sibisi 45+2'
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/UsOUnRbasg
A goal down at the interval, the hosts opted for a double change at the start of the second half as Ronaldo Maarman and Bienvenu Eva Nga were introduced off the bench.
The Buccaneers remained the more cohesive and proactive team, though they struggled to create clear attacking openings with which to test Nwabali.
Chippa looked to throw more numbers forward in the dying minutes, but if anything Pirates looked the likelier scorers due to the space now available to them on the counter attack, though ultimately a 1-0 scoreline was satisfactory for the Soweto giants.
Pirates will be in action this weekend when they face SuperSport United away from home in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals, while Chippa will next be in action in the Premiership on 15 March when they host Polokwane City.
Chippa United 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Sibisi 45+3’)
CHIPPA: Nwabali, Madingwane, Makhele, Moloa, Tyongwana (Sakala 79’), Ntsabo (Modise 37’), Kammies, Martin (Maarman 46’), Kwayiba, Philander (Bonani 71’), Konqobe (Eva Nga 46’)
PIRATES: Buthelezi, Ndlozi, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Nkota (Shandu 88’), Makhaula, Mbatha (Mako 62’), Dlamini (Mosele 62’), Hotto, Mofokeng, Mabasa (Makgopa 82’)