The victory helped the Soweto Giants secure a league double over their Gauteng rivals while moving to 59 points on the log. It was further misery for the hosts, who remain in 14th place with just one more  game left to play.

The midfield was the focal point of action for much of the first half with neither side as both sides looked to settle into the game. A second-minute set piece was the only shot on target throughout the opening quarter, and it was awarded to the hosts with Lyle Lakay drawing a comfortable save from Bucs debutant goalkeeper Siyabonga Dladla.

Meanwhile, Pirates had only a couple of misplaced shots to show for their efforts during the early exchanges, with Deon Hotto and Thalente Mbatha both not going anywhere near the target with their attempts at goal. It took some tenacious work on the flank from the Namibian to conjure up the Buccaneers’ first real opportunity. He did so by muscling his way towards the penalty area before finding Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was denied from close range by Thakasani Mbanjwa.

An erratic moment near the stroke of halftime denied the hosts the game’s opener as Lebohang Maboe found himself unmarked inside the box when receiving a clever cutback from the left. The Matsatsansa forward however fluffed his lines, skying his effort over the crossbar.

Maboe could have made amends for his earlier miss on the other side of the break, but could not capitalise once more. He was denied from close range by defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who put his body on the line to keep out what looked like a sure goal.

Pirates could not be kept too quiet for long after the break and had an opportunity through a clever touch from Mabasa, who played Mohau Nkota into space out on the right. The 20-year-old could not find a way past Mbanjwa, who made a vital block to keep the visitors scoreless.

Nkota managed to get the better of the United shot-stopper in the 72nd minute when he got on the end of a pass from Karim Kimvuidi before setting himself up for a left-footed shot that rattled the net to make it 1-0.

That sprung the home side into action as they set about looking for the equaliser which nearly arrived a few moments after the opening goal when Vincent Pule managed to get a shot away. The connection from the former Bucs midfielder was however not enough to trouble Dladla, who had all the time in the world to cover the necessary ground to make the save.

With time running out, the home side came just inches away from stealing a point when Maboe managed to beat an outstretched Dladla, only for his shot to crash onto the upright. That was the start of a frantic conclusion to the contest, with Pirates finishing the strongest of the two sides with close calls from the boots of Mbatha and Simphiwe Selepe at the other end.

Neither was able to alter the scorecard, with the Soweto Giants eventually taking maximum points for the fourth time in as many league visits to Polokwane this season.

Pirates XI: Dladla, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Shandu, Hotto, Selepe, Mbatha, Maswanganyi (Xoki 87’), Nkota, Dlamini (Kimvuidi 61’), Mabasa (Radiopane 76’

It’s a do-or-die clash between two sides that have achieved the rare feat of going back-to-back in terms of success in the competition. While the home side attempt to scale a significant hurdle in their bid to reclaim a crown they last held in 2017, their opponents go into the crucial encounter looking to emulate the legendary Bucs side of the 1970s in securing a hat-trick of titles.

Form Guide

Pirates cantered past the two opening rounds of this year’s  competition, netting six goals while conceding just twice across the two matches. They beat Premiership rivals Richards Bay 3-1 away from home before producing the same scoreline in their Round of 16 clash against Championship outfit Baroka. Those victories added to their impressive streak in the prestigious tournament, which they have dominated in recent years.

Overall form however has been a little on the indifferent side for Jose Riveiro’s troops in recent weeks. They have twice been on the losing side in the past month, going down to Mamelodi Sundowns and Marumo Gallants with both matches played away from home. There have been four victories amid the disappointments including Wednesday’s 1-0 triumph against Chippa United – their second away win during this period.

Their cup exploits have now seen their return to the scene of league wins against Magesi and Sekhukhune United earlier this season. It is where they will be locking horns with a Matsatsansa outfit emerging from a goalless draw at home to AmaZulu in midweek, just days after falling to a 1-0 defeat away to Magesi at a venue not too far from the one that will be serving as their home base for the cup quarter-final.

The Tshwane outfit’s route to the last eight has not been too dissimilar from that of their next opponents as it consisted of fixtures against opposition from each of the two top tiers in South African football. United brushed off the challenge of Magesi in their opener – winning 2-0 on the road – before a rather tight home encounter against Championship outfit Cape Town Spurs, which was decided in the penultimate minute of extra time through a Lebohang Maboe strike that made it 2-1. The latter result is just one of only two positive outcomes in the span of a month for Gavin Hunt’s men, with the other one being a convincing 4-1 win against a 10-man Kaizer Chiefs.

Having tasted success against one of the Soweto Giants, they will be encouraged to put on a performance that could mark their return to the semifinals after failing to do so since they last went all the way to clinch the title.

Team News

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is back in contention for a spot in the Buccaneers’ match day squad after not making the midweek trip to the Eastern Cape due to suspension. There will however be a forced reshuffling of the defensive line, with Nkosinathi Sibisi ruled out after picking up a one-match ban through an accumulation of yellow cards on Wednesday.

Pirates have also had to contend with a few injuries in recent times, with influential midfielder Patrick Maswangany among those not likely to feature while defender Olisa Ndah and striker Zakhele Lepasa have made steady progress since being sidelined.

Meanwhile Hunt remains a most prominent absentee for the home side. The veteran tactician was sent off during the league loss to Magesi and will be serving the second game in his two-match suspension.

Key Players

Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): The 20-year-old has stepped up to the plate, embracing the added responsibilities that come with his ever-evolving role in the team. Fresh off adding another assist to his tally, Mofokeng is one of many potent attacking threats in the Bucs setup and boasts an impressive 20 goal contributions in just 33 games across competitions.

Samir Nurkovic (SuperSport United): One of the new faces in the blue of Matsatsansa, the Serb has not hesitated to make an impact in his new surroundings. The 32-year-old is adept at finishing with either foot while posing a significant threat aerially and has already had a hand in four goals in his eight appearances for United.

Head-to-Head

While the two sides have been neck-and-neck in the league over the years, it’s Matsatsansa who have had the upper hand in their most recent Nedbank Cup encounters. They prevailed over the Buccaneers in back-to-back finals, clinching the title in 2016 and 2017.

Nevertheless, winning momentum in the ongoing season is currently with the Soweto Giants, who have registered wins over their Tshwane counterparts in both cup and league football. They claimed a 3-1 win in the MTN8 quarter-final back in August, and were again victorious by a similar margin when they netted two unanswered goals to claim all three points in a Premiership encounter that took place two months later.

Both those wins however occurred at Orlando Stadium, where they have won regularly against United. Their record against them on the road has been a direct contrast to their home success, and they now head into Saturday’s do-or-die victory still in search of their first away win since November 2024.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The game kicks off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. You can also follow the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets to attend the match are available for purchase online at TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.

This marks the second of three fixtures in just seven days for the Soweto Giants, who now turn their attention to midweek league football. They face a Matsatsansa outfit also navigating a packed schedule, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for three crucial points.

Form Guide

It’s a fixture that pits two sides with a bit to prove after experiencing similar fortunes in cup competition over the weekend. Both Pirates and United exited the Carling Knockout Cup in the first round after defeat on home turf.

For the Buccaneers, the high of securing one cup title was immediately followed by the low of a premature end to their pursuit of another trophy. This was courtesy of an upset at the hands of Magesi, who raced to a three-goal lead before withstanding a spirited fightback to claim a 3-2 win in Soweto.

It’s a result that ended Pirates’ unbeaten start to the season as well as a winning streak that had stretched to seven matches. They remain undefeated in league football however, resuming action in second place in the standings after bagging wins in each of their three fixtures played so far.

Having gone past Chippa United, Polokwane City and Richards Bay, they now go in search of another three-point haul against their Gauteng rivals. The Tshwane outfit meanwhile comes into the fixture reeling from a heavy defeat suffered in the hands of Kaizer Chiefs, which cut their cup run short. It was their second early exit in cup football and yet another stutter in what has been a difficult start to the season.

In the Premiership, United currently sit in 13th place in the standings with only a single victory to their name with just a solitary goal and a total of four points in their four games. Maximum points against the Buccaneers could place them within the top half of the table, sparking a much-needed boost in fortunes.

Team News

Matsatsansa have had some high-profile absentees from their match day squads over the past few weeks with Grant Margeman and Bradley Grobler both yet to feature in the league. The two players are likely to miss out once more as they continue to recover from injuries picked up earlier in the season.

There have also been a couple of additions to the Buccaneers’ injury list in the form of Olisa Ndah and Thalente Mbatha, while the likes of Thabiso Lebitso and Zakhele Lepasa continue to progress in their rehabilitation.

A return to the match day squad could also be on the cards for the likes of Makhehlene Makhaula and Miguel Timm, who both sat out the game against Magesi.

Key Players

Deano van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates): Since debuting for the Buccaneers, the new signing has quickly settled in and has delivered consistent top-class performances. A tireless workhorse, Van Rooyen has not only excelled at shutting down opposition attacks but also made a significant impact in the other half of the field, breaking through defences with intelligent runs and precise passing.

Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport United): A proven goal poacher, the ex-Bucs forward’s recent form has seen him earn his way back into Zimbabwe’s national setup. Dzvukamanja has stepped up for the Tshwane outfit in the absence of some key men up front, and could pose a significant threat with his tenacity and eye for goal.

Head-to-Head

Pirates and United will be crossing paths for the second time this season after opening their campaign with an MTN8 quarter-final clash at Orlando Stadium. It was the hosts who prevailed on that occasion, winning 3-1 in extra time after the first 90 minutes finished deadlocked at a goal apiece.

Their most recent Premiership encounter only dates back to the final match day of the previous season, where Tshegofatso Mabasa’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Gape Moralo with the game ending in a share of the spoils. The result ensured that the Buccaneers finished the season without a league win over Matsatsansa, who were victorious in the previous fixture.

Overall, matches between the two sides have been fiercely contested with very little to choose between them in the past 20 years. Pirates do however hold the edge at Orlando Stadium, having won nine of the last 20 games, losing five times and drawing the other six.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The match gets underway at 19:30 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 the men from Tshwane who enjoyed most of the early opportunities, largely due a nervy start from the home side. The best of their early chances fell to veteran striker Bradley Grobler, who fired wide from the edge of the box following a turnover of possession in the middle of the park.

Former Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule had a similar opportunity in the 12th minute, but only
succeeded in launching the ball over the crossbar. The Buccaneers could only kick into gear midway into the first half, and had their first real shot at goal courtesy of Relebohile Mofokeng who was perfectly-positioned to finish off a smart move towards the penalty area, but could only produce a wayward attempt.

United keeper Ricardo Goss was called into action moments later, with Tshegofatso Mabasa
producing an excellent turn to evade his marker before drawing a save from the outstretched
shot-stopper. The hosts continued to probe, with Patrick Maswanganyi getting close on the half-hour mark with a firmly-struck shot from range deflected wide by Goss. When it looked as if the two sides were set to head to the break still deadlocked, defender Olisa Ndah put Pirates ahead with a clever flick from close range as Monnapule Saleng revived the Bucs following the visitors’ failure to clear the threat from a set piece.

After trailing at the break, United emerged from the tunnel more energized and were
immediately rewarded for their drive as Pule nodded home in the 49th minute to make it 1-1. The Soweto Giants enjoyed a promising spell around the hour mark, pushing successive waves of attack deep inside the opposition half without affecting the scoreline. This period saw Mofokeng denied twice in the span of two minutes by Goss, followed by a narrow attempt from Mabasa who headed wide after connecting with a superb cross from Maswanganyi.

The Matsatsansa shot-stopper thwarted Saleng in the 76th minute, parrying the ball into the
path of Mabasa who could not direct his volley into the net. Neither side could find a winner inside 90 minutes, with the game eventually going into extra time. The Buccaneers had the perfect start to the extended period, with Saleng drawing them ahead after getting on the end of a brilliantly-worked set play just two minutes after the restart.

With United looking to force the game into a shootout, Sipho Chaine came up with an excellent stop to keep out a seemingly goal-bound shot from Nyiko Mobbie hit from close range. The visitors faced an uphill climb in the second period of extra time when substitute striker extended the home side’s lead when he pounced on a loose ball outside the box, directing it into the net to make it 3-1.

It could have been four goals to one in the final minute if not for the upright, which denied Kabelo Dlamini as he went for goal from just inside the box. However, the defending champions had done just enough to ensure a winning start to the new campaign as they sealed their spot in the last four.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndah, Sesane, Monyane, Hotto, Makhaula (Dlamini 72’), Mbatha ,
Saleng, Mofokeng (Kimvuidi 90’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa (Makgopa 84’).

It’s a do-or-die fixture for both sides to start the campaign as Pirates look to further underline
their status as the dominant force in the prestigious tournament, while United will be eyeing an improved performance after falling on the first hurdle in the previous season.

Form Guide
The two Gauteng rivals come off a productive off-season consisting of friendly fixtures as
they prepared for a testing campaign ahead. Matsatsansa’s trip to Botswana featured victories against Masitoaka, Gaborone United, and Botswana Defence Force (BDF XI), with their only defeat coming against African Stars.

They netted an impressive 10 goals in the process while only letting in three, and their 7-1 win against BDF XI stands out as the biggest winning margin on their tour. The men from Tshwane now set their sights on the Buccaneers, who took to Spain once more for their pre-season preparations before completing their fine-tuning in more familiar surroundings.

In their four matches on tour, Pirates shared the spoils with Plymouth Argyle and Granada at
the Banùs Football Centre, while their trip to Seville yielded a 2-0 win against La Liga outfit
Sevilla. They concluded their stay in Marbella with a defeat against Qatar champions Al-Sadd, who
won 3-2 with Tshegofatso Mabasa’s quick brace in the first half not enough to ensure an
unbeaten tour.

Having taken part in more practice matches at home, the Soweto Giants will look to hit the
ground running in their first game of the season as they look to be the first side in history to
win the MTN8 three consecutive times.

Team News
The off-season has presented both sides the opportunity to bolster their respective squads, with the likes of Gilberto, Thuso Moleleki, and former United midfielder Selaelo Rasebotja each eyeing a competitive debut in Pirates colours on Saturday. The Buccaneers will also be missing some key squad members as Tapelo Xoki and Paseka Mako remain among those on the injury list after finishing the previous season sidelined.

Their opponents have meanwhile unveiled six new faces ahead of the new campaign, with
ex-Buccaneer Vincent Pule joining the likes of Pogiso Sanoka and Keanin Ayer who signed
from TS Galaxy and Danish outfit Næstved, respectively. Along with Rasebotja’s transfer to Pirates, there have been other departures in the form of Shandre Campbell and Kegan Johannes who are among those who will be turning out in different colours in the new season.

Key Players
Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates): One of the biggest revelations in the previous campaign, Mbatha enjoyed a fruitful spell in his first six months as a Buccaneer and will be eager to build on that as the new campaign kicks off. The quality possessed by the 24-year-old adds an extra dimension to the Bucs midfield, with his ability to contribute both defensively and offensively proving key.

Grant Margeman (SuperSport United): The midfield workhorse has been an energetic presence in the middle of the park, covering plenty of ground across the engine room. Margeman enjoyed a stellar campaign last time out, featuring in all but two of his side’s fixtures in domestic competition.

Head-to-Head
The 2023/24 season ended with Pirates and United locking horns at the same venue in a league fixture that ended deadlocked at 1-1 after Mabasa’s 41st minute strike was cancelled out in the second half by Gape Moralo.

This was yet another tight clash between the two sides who have had a tight rivalry over the
years, with the Buccaneers edging Matsatsansa with five wins to four in their last 12 encounters. The Tshwane outfit has however had the upper hand in knockout competition in recent years, winning each of their last four cup games against their Soweto counterparts.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info
Kick-off is at 18:00 and the game will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC 1. Orlando Pirates will provide live updates across the Club’s social media channels. Tickets to attend the match are available online at TicketPro and selected outlets nationwide.