Orlando Pirates clinched a seventh-straight Betway Premiership win when they beat Richards Bay 1-0 at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
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The victory further solidifying their position atop the standings.
It was a record night for the Buccaneers and their coach Jose Riveiro.
Never before had Orlando Pirates won seven consecutive top-flight matches, let alone to start a season.
It was also Riveiro’s 100th match in charge.
The 49-year-old Spanish manager now boasts a record of: Played 100, won 61, drawn 20, lost 19 for a win record of 61%
Following their most recent win, Orlando Pirates now have 21 points from seven matches.
The Soweto giants have scored 13 goals and conceded just two in the 2024/25 season.
They lead defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns by six points, but have played one more match.
Masandawana have a tricky encounter against third-placed Polokwane City on Wednesday evening (19:30) and won’t want to drop further adrift.
LATEST BETWAY PREMIERSHIP STANDINGS
Who have Orlando Pirates beaten to date?
Chippa United (2-1), Polokwane City (3-0), Richards Bay (1-0), SuperSport United (2-0), AmaZulu (2-1), TS Galaxy (2-0) and Richards Bay (1-0).
Five of those seven matches have been played at ‘home’ meaning Orlando Pirates will be on the road more often than not in their remaining 23 fixtures.
Who do Orlando Pirates play next?
Unless there are fixture changes, the following are the Buccaneers’ remaining 2024 fixtures:
Saturday, 30 November vs Stellenbosch (H) – 15:30
Tuesday, 3 December vs Marumo Gallants (A) – 19:30
Tuesday, 10 December vs Golden Arrows (H) – 19:30
Tuesday, 17 December vs Sekhukhune United (H) – 19:30
Sunday, 29 December vs Magesi FC (A) – 15:30
Will Orlando Pirates lose a league match in 2024?
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MATCH REPORT: ORLANDO PIRATES V RICHARDS BAY
It only took a solitary goal in the first half for the Buccaneers to seal maximum points on their return to home soil.
The result took their points tally to 21 points, their best return at this stage of the season in the PSL era.
Their return to Soweto came seven days after a successful league voyage to Mpumalanga and proved to be a tricky tussle against Richards Bay outfit fresh off a morale-boosting cup win over the weekend.
The visitors were quick off the blocks and spent a considerable amount of time inside Bucs territory, mainly attacking through set pieces as they cleverly drew fouls in the opposition half.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine however remained largely untroubled as his defence held firm.
The first real shot of the game at the opposite end through Thalente Mbatha who went for goal in the 19th minute with a trademark long range effort that was deflected out.
More shots flew in towards the Natal Rich Boyz’ goal from range, with Patrick Maswanganyi misplacing his attempt in the 25th minute.
Thabiso Monyane found goalkeeper Ian Otieno’s gloves with a venomous shot from outside the box a minute later, leading to the breakthrough for the hosts.
It was striker Evidence Makgopa who provided the decisive touch as he appeared at the right place at the right time to latch onto the rebound before finding the net from close range.
The Buccaneers maintained their intensity despite edging in front and nearly went two ahead in the 33rd minute when another long-range attempt from Mbatha was kept out by Otieno.
The Kenyan international was called upon once more just seconds later, this time making an easy save off Mohau Nkota who could not get enough behind his shot after he was released by Relebohile Mofokeng.
His next save was nowhere near routine as he was forced into an acrobatic stop by a seemingly goalbound attempt from Monyane, who went for goal from a long way out.
Nkota and Thabiso Sesane each went close on the stroke of half-time, but the visitors were able to limit their deficit to just one goal by the time the players headed back into the tunnel.
Having finished the first period fully in control, Pirates began the second half as they ended the previous one with a close attempt from Makgopa who went narrowly wide after linking up with Nkota.
The teenage attacker then drew a save from Otieno with a shot of his own in the 54th minute, which was followed by an off-target effort from replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini.
It remained one-way traffic for much of the second half as defender Nkosinathi Sibisi also got in on the action with a header from close range, kept out by the Natal Rich Boyz shot-stopper.
Starved of chances at goal, Richards Bay’s debutant midfielder Lindokuhle Zikhali looked to manufacture a dream first league appearance with a speculative shot near the halfway line after spotting Chaine a few yards away from his goal.
His attempt was however comfortably off target.
Otieno pulled off two late saves late in the contest, denying Monnapule Saleng before keeping out a header from Tshegofatso Mabasa.
There was no further drama as the home side saw out the remaining minutes to continue their remarkable start to the 2024/25 season.
