Orlando Pirates finished the year on a high after claiming the Carling Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Carling All Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Second-half substitutes Sifiso Luthuli and Boitumelo Radiopane delivered the goods for Abdeslam Ouaddou's side, who struggled to make an impact in the opening 45 minutes and rarely threatened the opposition goal.
Buccaneers Make #CarlingCup History
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) December 13, 2025
💻 Full Details: https://t.co/NtaebqeJp8
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/FyRHRJHdkd
Ouaddou opted to ring the changes for the Buccaneers' final game of 2025, which saw Makhehleni Makhaula retained as the only starter from the Carling Knockout final against Marumo Gallants, while Deon Hotto skippered the team.
The All Stars were made up mainly of players from Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, including Marcelo Allende, Arthur Sales, Mfundo Vilakazi and Brandon Petersen, although Siwelele's Keabetswe Khontyane, Sekhukhune United's Sikhosonke Langa and Gallants' Phillip Ndlondlo also featured.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, with the All Stars moving the ball around a lot better and they had the first sniff at goal when Allende sent his free-kick wide of the target on 14 minutes.
Ndlondlo also tried his luck from range six minutes later, but failed to keep his shot down as it sailed over the crossbar before Vilakazi too blazed wide from outside the box after being teed up in the 35th minute.
Makhaula and Yanela Mbuthuma made way for Abdoulaye Mariko and Radiopane respectively at the start of the second half as Pirates looked to shift gear.
However, it was the All Stars who almost found the breakthrough on 67 minutes when Mduduzi Shabalala saw his shot from close range deflected over the bar by Lebone Seema.
The scare appeared to shake Pirates into action and they hit the front moments later through Luthuli, who lobbed Petersen after latching onto Hotto's first-time pass.
Paseka Mako attempted to beat Melusi Buthelezi with a curler on 76 minutes that flew well wide, but the Soweto giants struck again four minutes later to seal the win courtesy of a clinical finish from Radiopane into the far bottom corner of the net from a tight angle.
Ndlondlo should have done better when he scooped his shot over the crossbar on 85 minutes and Shabalala did at least manage to test Buthelezi moments later with an effort from an acute angle.
Orlando Pirates are the 2025 Carling Cup Champions after defeating the Carling All Stars 2-0 ⚫️⚪️#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/EpGC4VJipl
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 13, 2025
Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Luthuli 68', Radiopane 80')
Carling All Stars 0
Orlando Pirates: M. Buthelezi, O. Ndah, T. Sesane, L. Seema, D. van Rooyen, M. Makhaula (A. Mariko 46'), C. Dansin, P. Maswanganyi, D. Hotto, S. Masilela, Y. Mbuthuma (B. Radiopane 46').
Carling All Stars: B. Petersen, V. Sithole, T. Nkabinde, K. Khonyane, S. Langa, T. Mabaso, M. Vilakazi, M. Allende, P. Ndlondlo, N. Hlongwane, A. Sales.