Pirates overcome cup heartbreak to thrash Galaxy and maintain heat on Sundowns

Orlando Pirates kept pace with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership title race following a 3-0 thrashing of TS Galaxy at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday.

Pirates took 18 minutes to break the deadlock when Boitumelo Radiopane scored the opening goal before second half goals from Tshepang Moremi and Simphiwe Masilela sealed the win.

The Buccaneers, still hurting from their MTN8 final loss to Sundowns, knew they could not dwell on the cup loss with the league title race already very tight.

Early goal before second half heroics

Pirates’ first goal was a thing of beauty as they made a good move forward with Masilela splitting the Galaxy defence with his movement before passing to Oswin Apollis out wide on the left.

Appollis made a move into the box and even though he was tightly marked, he showed great strength before laying it on the plate for the onrushing Radiopane for an easy tap in.

The build-up on this opener for the Bucs ☠️🤌

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The Soweto giants had to wait until the 50^th minute for the second goal which was netted by Moremi after the winger made his way in the box before firing past the goalkeeper.

Masilela, who was impressive on the day, got the goal that his enterprising display deserved when he netted the third goal for Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team.

Pirates maintain heat on Sundowns

It was a neat exchange of passes between him and substitute Evidence Makgopa before he slotted in sweetly beyond the lanky Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Eliezer Tape.

Pirates continued their unbeaten run this season, taking their tally to 22 points from eight games, one behind leaders Sundowns, who demolished Richards Bay 4-1, but have played nine.

It looks like it will be a two-horse race again as the leading duo remain the only unbeaten sides in the league so far.