Two games stand between the Buccaneers and a third straight Nedbank Cup title, an unprecedented feat in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era. They extended their unbeaten run in the competition by edging SuperSport United on penalties in their quarter-final assignment at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

The game was decided on penalties after failing to produce a winner following 120 minutes of action where four goals were shared evenly. Next on the Soweto Giants’ sights is the Free State-based outfit, who endured a similar path of the last four.

This is after going all the way against ABC Motsepe Championship log- leaders Durban City on Sunday, pulling through with a convincing win in the shootout. The semifinal draw has now set up a rather unpredictable match-up, according to the two most recent results between the two sides.

They met twice in the league this season with the Buccaneers blowing Bahlabane ba Ntwa out the park with an 8-1 win at Orlando Stadium back in December. Gallants recently exacted revenge for that result with a 2-0 victory in their home leg.

There was also not much to separate the two sides in their only past encounter in the Nedbank Cup, which took place at Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Round of 16 stage of the 2022 edition. Bucs midfielder Phillip Ndlondlo was on target for his former side before his goal was cancelled out by a Bandile Shandu strike in the second half. The lottery of penalties was required to settle the contest, and it was the then-Limpopo outfit that claimed victory in the end on their way to their maiden cup final appearance.

Pirates have now been presented with an opportunity to avenge that result as they contest their first home Nedbank Cup semifinal since triumphing at a similar stage over Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2011. They have since added three more titles to their tally for a total of 10 – the second most in the competition’s history – and are chasing a hat-trick of titles after wins in 2023 and 2024.

Dates, kick-off times and match venues for the semifinals will be confirmed by the PSL in due course.

It was a costly slip-up for the Buccaneers as they saw the gap between themselves and the log leaders increase even further. Their opponents meanwhile claimed a crucial three points in their quest to avoid the axe.

Having drawn a sell-out crowd to the World Cup venue, Pirates looked to immediately stamp their mark on proceedings as they managed to send a few shots towards the Gallants goal in the opening 10 minutes. Relebohile Mofokeng and Bandile Shandu each had a go early on, but neither came close to opening the scoring.

The breakthrough came against the run of play as Gallants found a way through the visitor’s defence following a set piece. Former Bucs forward Gabadinho Mhango was the man with the decisive touch as he fired from close range to make it 1-0 in the 15th minute.

It was a setback that seemed to derail the Soweto Giants, who battled for cohesion throughout the remainder of the first period. A rare chance came their way nine minutes from the break when Kabelo Dlamini’s ball into the box was flicked across goal by Tshegofatso Mabasa, eluding Tapelo Xoki who only needed a touch to turn it into the net.

The hosts could have had the final say ahead of the interval, but Sipho Chaine pulled off a crucial stop to deny Zimbabwean forward Junior Zindoga who headed goalward after meeting a cross from countryman Daniel Msendami.

This meant that Pirates’ pursuit for parity spilled over into the second period, where they were the first of the two teams to find some go-forward ball. Dlamini and Mofokeng were both immediately involved, each getting a shot away without affecting the scoreboard.

Chaine was also called upon, producing an excellent save to thwart Gallants midfielder Sekela Sithole, who had broken through to set up a one-on-one with the shot-stopper.

The Buccaneers kept probing without any luck as the home side’s resolute defending kept clear-cut chances to a minimum. It was Gallants who were rewarded late in the second half – rather fortuitously – as an unlucky touch from Thalente Mbatha directed the ball into his own net in the 74th minute, doubling his side’s deficit.

Faced with an uphill climb, the visitors managed several forays into opposition territory. The evening’s frustrating theme however continued as none of their attempts yielded the desired result.

By the time the final whistle sounded, the writing had long been on the wall as Pirates suffered their first-ever league defeat at the hands of Gallants who pulled off the weekend’s biggest upset.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Van Rooyen (Ndlozi 84’), Shandu (Nkota 56’), Mbatha, Makhaula (Mako 76’), Hotto, Dlamini (Ndlondlo 84’), Mofokeng, Mabasa (Makgopa 76’).

For the Buccaneers’ the fixture presents a first competitive foray into the city in nearly five years. They face off against its newest resident in a clash pitting one of South Africa’s oldest football clubs against one of the sides still carving their own history in the country’s sporting landscape.

Form Guide

On their return to the big time following a short absence, Gallants have found the going rather tough and are currently near the bottom of the Premiership standings in 15th place. This is after stuttering along to just four wins and a total of 16 points in their 18 league fixtures.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s struggles mainly stem from their away form as they boast a slightly improved record in their adopted home, where they have enjoyed three of their victories. However, the Bloemfontein-based team goes into the game against the Soweto Giants winless the last two home games –  both played in their backyard. This follows a home defeat to a 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns and a goalless stalemate in last Sunday’s game against Polokwane City.

The draw against Rise and Shine may have been a tad short of the desired result, but it was yet another home fixture where their visitors had drawn blanks in front of goal. While not nearly as potent as they would like to be on one end of the pitch, Gallants have been shrewd at the other – keeping clean sheets in three of their last five home fixtures.

Results-wise, they have tallied 12 points at Free State Stadium throughout the season with eight coming against four of the five most recent visitors. Next to step onto the famous FIFA World Cup venue is a second-place Bucs outfit with some ground to cover in their aspirations to reach the summit of the table.

Since a hard-fought three points at home to Cape Town City, the gap between Pirates and the table-topping Sundowns has risen to a daunting 15 points. They do however have four games in hand and will want to make a significant dent in the deficit by dispatching their next hosts.

In order to achieve that, they will need to put behind them the memory of their last away league outing where they tripped up only for the third time in the ongoing league campaign. Two of their defeats have come in their five last outings on the road, where they boast nine out of a possible 15 points.

In six away fixtures since the start of the season, the Buccaneers have averaged a respectable two points a game. A total of seven goals and six conceded in their games outside of Soweto suggests that they have mainly crawled over the line, with October’s 2-0 win over TS Galaxy remaining their most significant winning margin on the road.

Team News

The Buccaneers will be one man short in the technical department, with head coach Jose Riveiro unable to take his usual spot in the dugout. The Spaniard has been suspended for one match after earning a booking during the victory over City.

There has been a boost amid the playing personnel however, with Kabelo Dlamini up for selection after serving his yellow-card ban. Fellow midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi is meanwhile a slight injury worry after he was stretchered off early in the second half on Saturday.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa also have a suspension worry of their own with midfielder Monde Mphambaniso unavailable for the clash. The 32-year-old picked up his fourth caution of the season over the weekend, triggering a one-match ban.

Key Players

Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The Bucs striker will be making a rare return to his former hunting ground, and does so in red-hot scoring form. With four goals in his last two league appearances, Mabasa will require some attention from the Gallants defence who will be well aware of the danger he poses following his hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

Edgar Manaka (Marumo Gallants): Highly experienced with valuable miles in the tank, the Gallants skipper has led from the front in his side’s return to the Premiership. The 35-year-old Manaka has excelled in a defensive role in the centre of the park, while occasionally showing up on the scoresheet.

Head-to-Head

Pirates and Gallants have so far battled it out five times in the league with their first clash only dating back to August 2021. Their most recent encounter will still be fresh in memory, especially for the Bucs faithful who witnessed their side romp to an astonishing 8-1 victory at Orlando Stadium just two months ago.

That was the Buccaneers’ fourth win in a row in games against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, and their third on home soil. They have managed one win in two attempts on the road, playing to a goalless stalemate in the inaugural encounter between the two sides before bagging a straightforward 2-0 win.

Unsurprisingly, the Soweto Giants’ dominance in this rivalry is also reflected under the goals column, where they account  for 10 of the 13 goals scored. Only two of these came in games hosted by Gallants, who are yet to find the net as the home team and will hope that their recent relocation presents a sharp change in fortunes in this particular fixture.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The match starts at 17:45 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the game are available online on TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.

It was an eventful return to league football for the Soweto Giants, who overcame stoppages and a spirited first half performance from the visitors to complete their biggest win of the season thus far.

They could not have asked for a better start to the match as they were in the lead within seconds after moving the ball upfield from the kick-off. It found its way to Deon Hotto, whose cross from the left was turned into the Gallants net by midfielder Kenneth Nthatheni.

Following a break in play brought about by some inclement weather, the Buccaneers managed to get the ball in the back of the net once more in the 10th minute. This time it was from the boot of Relebohile Mofokeng, whose goal did not stand as it was declared offside despite TV replays suggesting otherwise.

Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine kept out one shot from Daniel Msendami midway through the first half. He could not do much against Gabadinho Mhango just seconds later as the striker fired past him for the equaliser.

After drawing level, the visitors were able to keep clear-cut chances at their goal to a minimum while making the odd foray up the other end of the pitch. The best of their opportunities came through set pieces where Chaine kept out a header from Phathutshedzo Nange before denying Mhango’s direct shot from outside the penalty area. Mofokeng could have restored the lead at the stroke of halftime when he was played in by Mohau Nkota, but could only skew his attempt wide.

Following an evenly-fought first period, the second 45 minutes proved to be a direct contrast. The Buccaneers began it just as they started the first, restoring their lead through Tshegofatso Mabasa who netted the first of his three goals on the day seconds after the restart. The striker completed his brace just five minutes later as he headed past Washington Arubi after getting on the end of a lovely square ball delivered by Hotto. Bucs right-back Deano van Rooyen was next to join in the party, finishing from close range to make it 4-1.

With a comfortable lead early in the second half, Pirates were far from done as Mabasa brought up his second league hat-trick in 2024 in the 64th minute after heading in on the near post, following a corner kick from Kabelo Dlamini.

It was then Thalente Mbatha’s turn, with the hosts going 6-1 to the good as the midfielder fired in with a trademark long-range effort, which evaded the hapless Arubi. The 24-year-old repeated the feat in the 84th minute when he stretched the Buccaneers’ lead to six goals.

Mofokeng, who had been a thorn in the Gallants flesh on the left, was then brought down moments before the final whistle. The referee promptly pointed to the spot, with replacement striker Boitumelo Radiopane stepping up.

The 22-year-old made no mistake in bringing up his first senior goal for the Soweto Giants, sending Arubi the wrong way to make it 8-1. That was the last of a flurry of goals served up by the hosts, who ushered in the festive cheer with a commanding display on Christmas Eve.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane (Xoki 84’), Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto (Mako 72’), Mbatha, Makhaula (Tshobeni 77’}, Dlamini, Nkota (Gilberto 72’), Mofokeng, Mabasa (Radiopane 72’) .

With this hat-trick, Mabasa has two to his name in a calendar year following Bucs’ 7-1 triumph over Golden Arrows in April earlier this year.

Reflecting on his performance, the 28-year-old expressed both gratitude and joy, emphasising the importance of the team’s success.

“Thank you for the result, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “But secondly, to score a hat-trick as a striker is very special. We just hope that this win can spur us on to better form for the rest of the season.

“I would like to thank my teammates and also like to acknowledge the technical team for the hard work that they put in. It’s from all the work that we do at training which makes this possible.”

Orlando Pirates will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Magesi. The Buccaneers will be seeking redemption after being eliminated by Dikwena tša Meetse in the Netbank Cup earlier this year.

It’s a relatively new rivalry in the top flight, which will be reignited following the visitors’ brief absence from the top flight. Three points will be top of the priority list for both sides with the Buccaneers on a mission to reclaim the top spot while the men from the Free State will be determined to claw their way out of the bottom half of the standings.

Previous meetings

All previous league fixtures between the two sides have occurred over a brief span starting at the beginning of the 2021/22 season and finishing halfway through the following campaign.The four league fixtures played so far have been dominated by Pirates, who went on a three-match winning streak prior to Gallants’ brief absence from the top flight.

Two of these three wins took place at Orlando Stadium, where the Buccaneers are yet to drop points against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa. They only failed to get over the line in the very first meeting, which ended in a goalless draw.

Goal Scorers

The fixture has so far produced a total of six goals. Unsurprisingly, these have been heavily slanted in favour of the Buccaneers who have netted five and only conceded once.

Gallants were however the first to find the net as they went ahead in the 12th minute through Siphelele Ntshangase in their second league encounter against Pirates, with the game played at Orlando Stadium a little over three years to the day. That particular clash went on to finish in a 2-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts as ex-Bucs striker Kwame Peprah struck twice in quick succession to complete the comeback with under 30 minutes played.

The Ghanaian attacker remains the leading goal-scorer, with Paseka Mako, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Monnapule Saleng each currently at a goal apiece. Mako’s goal stands out as the fastest scored in the fixture, with the left-back finding the net just three minutes into the game to secure Pirates a 1-0 victory at home.

Ndlondlo is meanwhile the only player to have struck in the second half, with his 68th minute penalty in the most recent clash between the two sides crucial in handing the Buccaneers their first away win against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa.

Control in the Middle

Key to Pirates’ dominance in the fixture has been their control in terms of ball possession. Across the four games, they have comfortably led in the ball possession stakes. In all but one of the four games played, the Buccaneers have enjoyed over 55% of the ball, maintaining attacking pressure and limiting Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s opportunities.

Composure Under Pressure

While the Premiership is physical in nature with fouls a regular feature of the game, fixtures between Pirates and Gallants have been played in a good spirit. Both teams have displayed good discipline throughout with only 13 yellow cards dished out. The Free State outfit slightly edges the Soweto Giants in that regard as they boast seven yellows. To date, no player has been cautioned more than once while a red card is yet to be shown.

Match Access Guide

Tuesday’s fixture kicks off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. Tickets for the game are still available for purchase online through TicketPro or at select outlets across the country.