Sekhukhune United Spoil Orlando Pirates League Opener

Sekhukhune United spoiled Orlando Pirates‘ league opener, securing a narrow 1-0 victory at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Buccaneers, who were riding a wave of confidence after their recent MTN8 success, were unable to penetrate a well-drilled Sekhukhune defense. Both teams had recently advanced to the MTN8 semi-finals, setting the stage for a tense and strategic match.

Pirates' coach Abdeslam Ouaddou opted for a starting lineup that included experienced players like captain Linda Mntambo and Thabang Monare.

Despite their control of possession for large portions of the game, Pirates struggled to create meaningful opportunities. The most significant chance of the first half came from a defensive error by Sekhukhune's Daniel Cardoso, whose attempted clearance hit his own post. The deadlock remained unbroken at halftime.

The turning point of the match came just after the restart. In a moment of frantic play inside the Pirates' penalty area, the ball fell to Siphesihle Mkhize, who managed to squeeze it past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to give Sekhukhune a 1-0 lead.

MBOKAZI COMING CLOSE TO EQUALISING

Pirates pushed hard for an equalizer, and with 15 minutes left, young talent Mbekezeli Mbokazi came agonizingly close, only to see his header hit the post.

Ultimately, for all their possession and late chances, Pirates could not find a way past the Sekhsekune defense, resulting in a frustrating start to their league season.

The loss is particularly disheartening for Pirates fans, as it came on a day when their main title rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, had also dropped points, giving them a chance to gain an early advantage that they failed to take.