Orlando Pirates went three points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership table after claiming a 2-0 win over Durban City in the first meeting between the two sides at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
The Buccaneers claimed a 10th win in their 13th league game of the season and sit on 28 points on the table.
They are unbeaten in their last 11 league games.
Pirates move to the top of the #BetwayPrem table ☠️🔝#SSDiski | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/y2CEq4cl3N
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 29, 2025
The Soweto giants will be without Patrick Maswanganyi in the upcoming Carling Knockout final as the midfielder received his fourth yellow card of the season, resulting in a one-game suspension.
Durban City were handed their third loss in their last five league games and find themselves in eight place on the table with 19 points from 14 games.
The hosts started well and Mfanafuthi Mkhize nearly opened the scoring in the third minute.
The 27-year-old rose above Mbekezeli Mbokazi and nearly directed City’s corner into the top corner but he headed just wide, missing out on his first goal in the top flight.
In the 12th minute, Jean Lubumba's cross nearly fell perfectly for Samkelo Maseko but the ball bobbled before reaching him and he could not make contact with the ball.
Mbokazi lost the ball in his own box in the 18th minute having it stolen by Maseko, who squared the ball across the face of goal for Lubumba. The Congolese striker was denied a sure goal by Thalente Mbatha, who tracked back to intervene.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, as Relebohile Mofokeng’s cross found an open Evidence Makgopa in the middle of the box for his third goal of the season in the Betway Premiership.
Makgopa's confidence right now 📈📈
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 29, 2025
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSDiski | @McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/HnrQEqwheh
In the 34th minute, Pirates were nearly caught napping as a stray pass found Bokang Mokwena instead of its intended target, but Mokwena’s long-range effort went well off target.
Makgopa and Mofokeng combined once again in the 44th minute on the counter attack.
Makgopa played Mofokeng in, but the starlet stumbled at the vital moment and could not get a shot off before the ball was repossessed by Durban City.
SUB KNOCKED OUT COLD
The Buccaneers continued confidently in the second half and came close to a second in the 50th minute.
Maswanganyi played a dink to Mofokeng, whose header found Moremi, but the winger’s effort was denied by Darren Keet.
Keet flirted with danger in the 61st minute, leaving his box to shelter the ball from Makgopa at the corner flag, allowing it to trickle out.
However, Makgopa managed to get the ball from Keet and cross to Moremi in the box, but Mkhize got to the ball before him, keeping Moremi from finding the empty net.
Substitute and Namibian international Joslin Kamatuka had to be stretchered off on the 72nd minute after Mbokazi’s clearance smacked him in the face, knocking him out cold.
Mbatha played a fabulous cross-field ball to find substitute Oswin Apollis in a dangerous area in the 75th minute, but the winger’s effort from the right side of the box travelled across the face of goal.
The Buccaneers found their second of the game in the 77th minute through brilliant combination-play.
Nkosikhona Ndaba crossed to Appolis in the box, who laid the ball off for Maswanganyi. The midfielder made no mistake from close range, doubling Pirates’ lead.
The visitors kept hunting for a third and nearly found it in stoppage time, but Mofokeng could not convert at the near post.
Durban City captain Siphamandla Ncanana was given his second yellow card of the game shortly before the final whistle and was forced to exit the pitch.
Durban City will play their final game of 2025 at Olympia Park in Rustenburg on Wednesday, facing 13th-placed Orbit College.
The Buccaneers will have the opportunity to claim their second piece of silverware this season in their final fixture of the year as they face Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Durban City 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Makgopa 23’, Maswanganyi 77’)
Durban City: D. Keet, S. Ncanana, M. Mkhize, F. Gcaba (O. Nyulu 87’), T. Mashego, K. Jurgens, A. Jodwana, S. Maseko (L. Sifumba 87’), B. Mokwena (L. Koapeng 61’), H. Domingo, J. Lubumba (J. Kamatuka 61’) (S. Magawana 73’)
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, M. Mbokazi, N. Sibisi, T. Lebitso (D. van Rooyen 88’), N. Ndaba, T. Mbatha, M. Nemtajela (M. Makhaula 46’), P. Maswanganyi (K Dlamini 79’), R. Mofokeng, T. Moremi (O. Appollis 65’), E. Makgopa (Y. Mbuthuma 65’)