Orlando Pirates remain without a win in the Betway Premiership following a 2-1 loss to Marumo Gallants on Tuesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Marumo Gallants 2-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 12 August 2025
Venue: Dr Molemela Stadium
Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made a few changes from the loss to Sekhukhune United as Sipho Mbule and Relebohile Mofokeng were among those who dropped to the bench while Abdoulaye Mariko and Tshepang Moremi were handed their full debuts for the Soweto giants.
The Soweto giants unsurprisingly came out firing for the contest as Boitumelo Radiopane managed to test goalkeeper Washington Arubi in the opening five minutes, while Oswin Appollis remained a threat on the wing.
Pirates were rewarded for their dominance on 15 minutes when Deon Hotto did well to pick out Patrick Maswanganyi, who fired home with a first-time finish from six-yards out.
Gallants, meanwhile, had a couple passages of good play in the first period, but they lacked the penetration trouble the Buccaneers defence and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
At the other end, Arubi was called upon to keep the hosts in the contest as he pulled off a stunning save to deny Appollis in the box before Radiopane saw his effort blocked on the rebound.
Pirates were made to rue that miss as Gallants pulled level on the stroke of halftime when Daniel Msendami got his first goal of the season with a first-time finish that Chaine was unable to keep out.
With the Buccaneers struggling to break Gallants down in the second half, Coach Ouaddou made a double change ten minutes after the halftime break, as Mofokeng and Evidence Makgopa were introduced in place of Moremi and Radiopane.
The visitors dominated in the second period thereafter but they were finding it tough to carve out chances against a Gallants defence who were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure while looking to catch their opponents out on the break.
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, Gallants remained resolute and managed to snatch a winning goal in second-half stoppage time when Jaisen Clifford popped up at the far post and bundled home a cross to seal a second successive win for Gallants.
Pirates, meanwhile, remain without a win after two matches played and will now turn their attention to Saturday's MTN8 semi-final first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Here's how they lined up:
Marumo Gallants: 36. Arubi, 35. Sikhosana, 18. Chabatsane, 10. Mphambaniso, 13. Ncube, 22. Msendami, 50. Nhlapo, 76. Khumalo, 26. Sithole, 39. Mabuza, 4. Mabotja
Subs: 16. Mlambo, 21. James, 8. Mbhele, 33. Mhlongo, 20. Khumalo, 27. Motloung, 7. Sithole, 9. Clifford, 25. Mathiane.
Orlando Pirates: 34. Chaine, 2. Mashiloane, 33. Seema, 44. Mbokazi, 7. Hotto, 30. Nduli, 32. Mariko, 28. Maswanganyi, 11. Moremi, 12. Appollis, 42. Radiopane
Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 46. Dansin, 38. Mofokeng, 36. Sebelebele, 29. Kwayiba, 27. Xoki, 23. Mbule, 17. Makgopa, 3. Ndaba
