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Pirates edge Orbit for second Premiership win

football26 August 2025 19:34| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates secured their second win of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership by defeating newly-promoted Orbit College 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Buccaneers – fresh from securing a fourth MTN8 final appearance this past weekend – had a frustrating game overall, but were able to claim the three points thanks to a superb strike from Lebone Seema.

The result lifted them to seventh place on the log.

As for the Mswenko Boys, this was a third defeat from their four league matches thus far and left them in 14th place – just one point above the relegation playoff zone.

Pirates started strongly and carved out a chance for Patrick Maswanganyi as early as the seventh minute, though the attacking midfielder was only able to stab a shot straight at Orbit goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.

The Buccaneers retained a level of control and dominance throughout the first half, but were frustrated in their attempts to break down Orbit’s defence.

And the Mswenko Boys enjoyed a strong spell in the minutes before halftime, with Atisang Batsi seeing a shot blocked on the edge of the box, while Siyabulela Mabele latched onto a poor clearance from Sipho Chaine and sent a long-range effort goal-wards, but the Pirates goalkeeper scrambled back to make a desperate save.

The Buccaneers showed their dissatisfaction with their first-half performance by making a triple change at the restart, as Sipho Mbule, Thalente Mbatha and Nkosikhona Ndaba were all introduced.

The hosts showed far more intent and impetus, and were rewarded with a goal in the 56th minute.

Seema picked up an Orbit clearance outside the box and sent an unstoppable volley beyond the left hand of Moerane for his first goal at senior level.

Orbit almost found an equaliser in the 70th minute, with Mabele driving a long-range effort on target, but Chaine moved sharply to his left to turn the ball away for a corner kick.

Pirates were close to a second goal a couple of minutes later, with Tshegofatso Mabasa denied by a sharp save from Moerane, while Kamogelo Sebelebele was unable to capitalise on the rebound and saw his effort blocked on the goal line.

Ultimately the Buccaneers saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort, with Orbit unable to create any notable chances in the final quarter hour.

The teams will return to Premiership action this coming weekend, with Orbit hosting TS Galaxy on the evening of Saturday 30 August, while Pirates will be away to Chippa United the following afternoon.

Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Seema 56’)

Orbit College 0

PIRATES: Chaine, Shandu, Seema, Mbokazi, Hotto (Ndaba 46’), Nduli (Mbatha 46’), Mariko (Mbule 46’), Maswanganyi, Sebelebele, Appollis (Moremi 68’), Mabasa (Makgopa 78’)

ORBIT: Moerane, Setlhodi (Mkhabela 56’), Mokgosi, Nhlapo, Jingana, Thibedi, Batsi, Ramosala (Khoto 68’), Mahlatsi (Lukhele 68’), Mabele (Moeti 90+3’), Modimoeng (Matsemela 68’)

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