Stellenbosch FC ended Orlando Pirates’ seven-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory in a Betway Premiershipencounter at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday afternoon.
The Winelands-based side collected maximum points thanks to a first-half strike from Bafana Bafana international Devin Titus.
Pirates and Stellenbosch locked horns in the league match after participating in the CAF Interclubs competitions midweek.
The Buccaneers claimed a crucial 2-1 win over Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League group stages. Pirates midfield sensation Mohau Nkota netted a brace to give his side all maximum points. Meanwhile, Khanyisa Mayo scored a consolation goal for Belouizdad.
On the other hand, Stellenbosch were looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat against Stade Alien in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Stellies have had an inconsistent start to the 2024/25 after being knocked out of the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup. The Western Cape-based side won the inaugural Carling Knockout Cup in the previous campaign after beating TS Galaxy on penalties.
In a mouth-watering encounter at Soweto, Pirates dominated the early exchanges of the match but they were wasteful in the final third.
DEVIN TITUS GIVES STELLENBOSCH THE LEAD
Despite the Ghosts dominating the match, Stellenbosch took the lead in the 33rd minute with a goal by Devin Titus.
The match opened up with Pirates looking for an equalising goal, and they came close to finding the back of the net on the stroke of half-time with a shot from Patrick Maswanganyi, but it was inches away from goal.
A few minutes later, Pirates were awarded an indirect free-kick after goalkeeper Sage Stephens handled a back pass from his own teammate. However, the Soweto giants could not convert from the set-piece.
In the second-half, Pirates pushed to turn the match on its tail, but Stellenbosch held on to their 1-0 lead to collect maximum points away from home.
In another match on Sunday, Golden Arrows beat Cape Town City FC 3-0 at Mpumalanga Stadium. Arrows moved to the fifth spot on the log with 13 points after winning against the Citizens.
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