It was another fruitful league outing for the home side, who earned three more points to take their tally to 15 after five games played in the 2024/25 campaign. The victory also helped them reclaim top spot ahead of the rest of the weekend’s top flight action.

Having retained the same eleven that won against SuperSport United in midweek, Pirates faced a different challenge in an Usuthu side still chasing their first league points of the season. They had to contend with a long toil for opportunities during the opening period while the opposition made a few threatening strides into their territory.

Patrick Maswanganyi’s wide attempt from range was all the Buccaneers had to show for their early efforts. At the other end of the pitch, the visitors had some promising moments of their own but were kept at bay with Thabiso Sesane and Deon Hotto both making vital clearances inside the first quarter.

It would take something special for either side to grab hold of the game and that moment was provided by Bucs teen sensation Mohau Nkota who produced a left-footed stunner from a long way out in the 31st minute, beating Usuthu keeper Richard Ofori at his near post.

That put the hosts ahead and they immediately set out to increase the lead. The teenager got on the end of the next opportunity just seconds later as he got on the end of a pass from Maswanganyi. However, he could only fire off target this time around and he miscued his shot.

It did not take long for Nkota to make amends for his earlier miss, as he doubled his tally five minutes after bagging his first senior goal. His second came following some neat work from Mofokeng, who unselfishly knocked one into the direction of his fellow Academy product with the youngster making no mistake as he calmly slotted home to make it 2-0.

The teenager remained relentless, almost completing his hat-trick three minutes after his second goal as he rattled the crossbar after combining with Mofokeng once more. Sesane meanwhile had to cut off another attack late in the second half, with Usuthu looking up half the deficit on the stroke of halftime.

Despite enjoying a comfortable lead, the home side kept searching for another goal early in the second half and had several opportunities to make it 3-0. The first few were created by Mofokeng who linked up with Nkota and Maswanganyi, with neither player managing to find the net.

Nkota went inches wide with his effort in the 67th minute and had another attempt blocked
by ex-Bucs defender Abbubaker Mobara just moments later. This was followed up by an opportunity for striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was denied by Ofori seconds after coming on as a substitute. Another Pirates replacement almost made an immediate impact, as Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo had his shot from inside the box tipped over the crossbar by the Ghanaian shot-stopper.

Pirates maintained control heading into the closing moments until they were stunned deep in injury time by Hendrick Ekstein, who pulled one back against the run of play. This set up an interesting last few seconds of the contest, but Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine had a final say deep in injury time as he produced a crucial save to keep the hosts in front.

The final whistle sounded moments later, as Nkota’s first-half brace secured another three
points for the Buccaneers.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen (Mako 27’), Hotto, Makhaula (Rasebotja
65’), Mbatha (Ndlondlo 75’), Nkota (Gilberto 75’), Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Makgopa
(Mabasa 75’)

Orlando Stadium is set for an electrifying Friday night showdown as Orlando Pirates welcome AmaZulu to the iconic venue for their next Betway Premiership match.

The fixture kicks off the weekend’s top-flight action with the home side’s busy schedule in full swing after another league outing in midweek. Meanwhile, Usuthu mark their first Premiership assignment in nearly a month with a demanding task on the road, seven days after hosting Stellenbosch in the Carling Knockout Cup.

Form Guide

The visitors head to Soweto desperate to turn their fortunes around after failing to secure a point with three matches played. Their misery has not been limited to league football as they suffered a cup defeat at home to Stellenbosch last Friday.

The dreadful start to the campaign has seen the team from KwaZulu-Natal unable to move from the bottom of the league standings, where they sit with just two goals scored and six conceded. They face a daunting task against the Soweto Giants, who are coming off a positive midweek league result.

The Buccaneers dropped to second place on the league table after briefly sitting at the top following their 2-0 victory over SuperSport United on Tuesday night. This marked their fourth consecutive win since the start of the Premiership campaign, keeping them among the two teams that still hold a perfect record.

They also boast one of the best defensive records in the league with only a solitary goal conceded so far, while also proving potent in front of goal with eight scored in their four matches.

Separated from the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns by goal difference, Pirates have the opportunity to reclaim top spot and place pressure on their rivals as they kickstart the weekend’s action.

Team News

The visitors could reshuffle their lineup in hopes of turning their results around. New signing Luvuyo Phewa is yet to make his debut, while the experienced Hendricks Ekstein could make his first league appearance this season after returning to action on Friday.

Pirates also recently welcomed back a key player of their own in midfielder Thalente Mbatha, who started the game on Tuesday following a brief spell on the sidelines.  The coming weeks could also see the likes of Bandile Shandu and Tapelo Xoki making their return to the match day squad as they continue to make strides in their match readiness.

Key Players

Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates): The big centre-forward is among the league’s top scorers early on in the season, having found the net three times in as many appearances. Makgopa is a menacing presence in the opposition box, demanding unflinching attention from the defence with his ability to deliver in key moments.

Etiosa Ighodaro (AmaZulu): The 23-year-old has been one of the bright lights for Usuthu in a season where they have found the going tough. Ighodaro’s goal-poaching ability has seen him net both his side’s goals in the league, and he will be eager to add more to his tally against the Buccaneers.

Head-to-Head

A second-half strike from Tshegofatso Mabasa was all the Buccaneers needed to secure maximum points in Usuthu’s last visit to Orlando Stadium. This took the total tally against the KZN outfit to four points in the 2023/24 season, having shared the spoils in the previous fixture played at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

This stretched the Soweto Giants’ unbeaten run in the fixture to eight seasons where they have won nine of the 16 games played, with the other seven finishing with scores level.

Pirates have been especially dominant at home, winning 11 of the last 18 games played in Soweto while AmaZulu boast a single away victory during this period.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the Club’s social media platforms.

Tickets to attend the match are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.