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Red-hot Pirates slay Galaxy to climb up to third spot

football30 September 2025 19:40| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates maintained their winning form in the Betway Premiership when they claimed a 2-0 victory over TS Galaxy in a match played at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

As a result, Bucs climbed to the third spot in the league standings after registering their ninth successive win across all competitions. The Buccaneers will be back in action at the Orlando Stadium this weekend as they welcome Siwelele FC in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 match on Saturday.

The Rockets, on the other hand, remained seventh in the standings after their five-match unbeaten run came to an end. Coach Adnan Beganovic's side will also compete in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 on Saturday as they are scheduled to face Orbit College in Rustenburg.

The Buccaneers applied pressure on the Rockets' defence from the first whistle of the match. Bucs were awarded a penalty after Mlungisi Mbunjana was adjudged to have fouled eventual Man of the Match Masindi Nemtajela in the box and Evidence Makgopa converted from the spot-kick to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

Kamogelo Sebelebele was determined to find the back of the net against his former employers as he had two rasping shots saved by goalkeeper Ira Eliezer Tape in the 24th and 25th minutes. Galaxy were then able to contain Pirates, who were enjoying a narrow 1-0 lead at the interval, thanks to Makgopa's 17th goal for the Buccaneers.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made attacking changes after the restart, with Tshegofatso Mabasa and Oswin Appllis being introduced. The duo nearly combined to double the Pirates' lead in the 71st minute, as Appollis played a defence-splitting pass for Mabasa, but the ball was cleared away by on-rushing Tape, before the striker could pounce and score.

Both teams surged forward in numbers in the latter stages of the match, with the Rockets looking to snatch a late equalising goal, while the Buccaneers looked to kill off the game. Mabasa proved to be an inspired substitute as he headed home Deon Hotto's cross in stoppage time to seal Pirates' 2-0 win over Galaxy.

Pirates (1) 2 (Makgopa 20', Mabasa 90'+4)

Galaxy 0

Pirates: Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Lebitso, Hotto, Nduli, Nemtajela, Mofokeng, Sebelebele (Appollis 60'), Moremi (Mbule 84'), Makgopa (Mabasa 61')

Galaxy: Tape, Zulu (Ouamri 76'), Motaung (Moletshe 90'+2), Ndamane, Sibande, Mbunjana, Maduna, Mgaga (Zindoga 46'), Dithejane, Mvelase (Keita 67'), Mahlambi (Paulinho 90'+2)

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