The Buccaneers still have two games in hand on Sundowns, but it now looks more likely the Brazilians will defend their title.
Orlando Pirates suffered a potentially fatal blow to their Betway Premiership title quest as they lost 1-0 to Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
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With Mamelodi Sundowns winning 3-0 at home against Richards Bay on the same night, Pirates’ defeat meant they now trail the Brazilians by 12 points.
Pirates need to bounce back
The Buccaneers still have two games in hand on Sundowns. But it now looks more likely the Brazilians will defend their title.
Pirates will have to find a way to bounce back from this loss and the heartbreaking defeat by Pyramids FC in the Caf Champions League semifinals in Cairo on Friday.
The Buccaneers will now play Kaizer Chiefs in consecutive games. They first meet in the Premiership on Saturday and then in the Nedbank Cup final on May 10.
Jose Riveiro took a gamble by starting Wednesday’s game with Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha, who were both on three yellow cards.
He later introduced Patrick Maswanganyi who was also on three yellow cards. But luckily for him none of these players were booked in the game against Babina Noko. Had one of these players collected another yellow ard against Sekhukhune, they would have missed Saturday’s derby.
As expected, the home side did most of the attacking. The visitors sat back and looked to catch them on the counter attack.
Even with the compact defence, the Buccaneers were able to find some space. They almost took the lead through Mbatha in the 18th minute, but his shot from range went narrowly wide.
Five minutes later, Bandile Shandu, who was given a rare start at right back in the absence of the injured Deano Van Rooyen, wasted a glorious chance. He was found by a perfect pass from Mofokeng, but shot over the crossbar.
Sekhukhune ‘keeper on song
Pirates were awarded a free kick in a good scoring position on the half-hour mark. Kabelo Dlamini brought the best out of Renaldo Leaner from it. The Babina Noko goalkeeper did well to parry the ball away for a corner kick.
Leaner was on hand again to make another save from Mbatha’s long range on the stroke of half-time. That made sure that the teams were locked at 0-0 at the break.
Pirates started the second half much like the first by taking the game to Sekhukhune and should have taken the lead in the 51st minute. But an unmarked Mbekezeli Mbokazi ballooned his shot over the crossbar.
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The Buccaneers were to be punished for this miss seven minutes later when Tresor Tshibwabwa put Babina Noko in the lead with a header from a Keletso Makgalwa corner kick.
Things went from bad to worse for Pirates in the 84th minute. Nkosinathi Sibisi was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a foul on Makgalwa.
