Orlando Pirates made it three in a row as a late goal handed them a 1-0 win over Richards Bay at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in their Betway Premiership fixture on Sunday afternoon.
Kabelo Dlamini’s free kick in the second half was the solitary goal on the day.
It was a windy and wet day in Durban, as Pirates looked to keep their 100% win record in the league ahead of next week’s MTN8 final and the international break that follows. A tricky tie, with Pirates last beating Richards Bay four games ago, back in the 2022/23 campaign.
While Pirates were in control early on, there was a scare when Thabiso Sesane committed a desperate tackle in the 9th minute, as Justice Figueiredo looked to break free. The young defender escaped with just a yellow card. Lwandile Mabuya went wide with a shot that followed the resulting set piece.
After a brief period of a positive play from Richards Bay, Pirates wrestled back control, and Thalente Mbatha tried from range in the 21st minute, but it was always going wide of goal.
Angolan international Gilberto tried to curl one in from the left, but his 30th-minute attempt went wide of Ian Otieno’s goal. Four minutes later at the other end, Thabang Sibanyoni was unable to steer his header goalward.
Just before half-time Siyethemba Sithebe tried an ambitious attempt, but it flew high and wide of Sipho Chaine’s goal.
Mbatha had a chance six minutes into the second half, and Otiento got down well to deflect the shot behind. Gilberto went wide in the 55th minute.
In the 57th minute, Figueiredo forced a save from chaine at the other end, while Mabuya went just over with a shot from the edge of the area.
Relebohile Mofokeng, who had a quiet afternoon, almost produced the opener in the 61st minute but Otieno reacted well to make a good save.
The wall did its job to stop Hotto’s freekick in the 66th minute, while Gilberto’s header from the resulting corner went wide. The Angolan went wide again with fifteen minutes ago.
Otieno made a double save to first parry away Mofokeng’s long-range attempt and then stopped Hotto’s shot on the follow-up.
Pirates were pushing hard and were awarded a dangerous free-kick in the 81st minute, and Kabelo Dlamini, who had come on off the bench, delivered a perfectly taken shot to finally break the deadlock.
There was some late pressure from Brandon Truter’s side, who fought hard but Pirates held out for the final minutes to maintain their winning start to the league.
