Betway Premiership: Orlando Pirates deal another defeat to Golden Arrows

Orlando Pirates bounced back from their Nedbank Cup final defeat on Tuesday, returning to Betway Premiership action with a 3-0 victory over Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium.

Tshegofatso Mabasa opened the scoring for the Bucs inside the opening twenty minutes before second half goals from Bandile Shandu and Kabelo Dlamini confirmed three points. Mabasa scored in his second straight league match for Pirates with a penalty box finish after being set up by strong work from Relebohile Mofokeng.

Shandu swept in to finish from close range after Deon Hotto’s cross was deflected towards goal by Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga in the 61st minute. Dlamini’s excellent free kick strike added one more for the hosts five minutes later.

With their hopes of catching leaders Mamelodi Sundowns all but mathematically eliminated, Pirates took out their frustrations on a Golden Arrows side in free fall. The Durban club have now lost four straight league matches, including their second against Pirates after losing to them by a 1-2 score at home on May 6. They are now only three points ahead of Cape Town City in the relegation/promotion playoff spot.

The Buccaneers are now twelve points back of Sundowns, who only need one point from their last two matches to retain the title in South Africa’s top tier. They next host fellow top-5 side TS Galaxy on Saturday.

League Table (Top-5)