The Soweto powerhouse, Orlando Pirates, extended their unbeaten streak in the league this season to six games after defeating TS Galaxy 2–0 on Tuesday evening at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
Jose Riveiro’s troops remain the only side that has not lost a league game this season. Boasting a 100% winning record with six wins in six league matches.
Two Crucial Changes
Riveiro made only one change from the team that won 2-1 against Amazulu on Saturday. He called on Thabiso Monyane, a DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) graduate, to replace the injured Deano Van Rooyen at right back and Kabelo Dlamini to take over from Maswanganyi in the number ten position.
Azola Tshobeni, a Pirates DDC graduate, was on the bench for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the other three graduates—Thabiso Sesane, Mohau Nkotha, and Relebohile Mofokeng—retained their starting spots.
Following Thembinkosi Lorch’s departure to join Maswanganyiin January of this year, Mofokeng has integrated himself into Riveiro’s team and become a vital asset.
2-0 Win Over TS Galaxy
On Tuesday evening, Pirates departed the Mbombela Stadium with three points and a six-point lead in the Betway Premiership, courtesy of two stunning long-range goals from Thalente Mbatha and Relebohile Mofokeng.
The Buccaneers showed their hunger to win and dominance early in the game. Without their playmaker, Patrick Maswanganyi, they had to dig deep and not rely on individual brilliance as they were up against one of the most promising sides in the league.
Pirates found the breakthrough in the 16th minute through Mbatha’s long-range shot from outside the box, following several failed attempts by the Bucs’ attackers both inside and outside Galaxy’s penalty area.
Mofokeng doubled the Bucs’ lead in the second half with an astounding strike from metres away from the Galaxy penalty area, keeping Pirates at the top of the Betway Premiership table.
The Buccaneers have accumulated 18 points after six games, making them the league’s highest-scoring and most defensively solid team, having scored 12 goals and conceded only two.
Pirates’ Next League Game
Pirates will play their 2024/25 seventh league game against Richards Bay on November 5, 2024, at Orlando Stadium.
