Pirates down AmaZulu to move three points clear at the top

Relebohile Mofekeng of Orlando Pirates celebrates scoring during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 match against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Tuesday night. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix Orlando Pirates beat AmaZulu 2-0 to move three points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership standings. Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made just one change from the team that beat Magesi 2-0 in their previous game last weekend, with the experienced Deon Hotto coming in for Nkosikhona Ndaba at left-back.

The game started at a frantic pace with both teams throwing everything at each other as they looked for goals, but it was the Buccaneers that drew first blood through Mofokeng who headed home Tshepang Moremi’s cross in the 16thminute. It was his in as many games having scored against Magesi. Usuthu almost responded immediately when Pirates failed to clear the danger, but Sipho Chaine was on hand to make a save to deny Keegan Allan in the 19thminute.

Soon after that the Buccaneers took control of the game and Johnson became the busier of the two goalkeepers as Pirates looked for the assurance goal. Johnson almost gifted Pirates with their second goal in the 22ndminute when he came out of his line late and was beaten to the ball by Yanela Mbuthuma, but much to his relief the striker’s header went wide of goal. Three minutes later, Johnson redeemed himself with a fine save to deny Deon Hotto, who had done well to beat his marker inside the box before unleashing a powerful shot towards goal.

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Mbatha then tried his trademark shot from range on the stroke of half-time, but Johnson was on hand again to parry the ball away for a corner kick. AmaZulu came out with guns blazing in the second half as they looked for the equaliser Having opted not to make changes at the start of the second half, Zwane took out the ineffective Hendrick Ekstein and Bongani Zungu and replaced them with Langelihle Mhlongo and Athini Maqokolo.

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