Richards Bay handed Orlando Pirates a significant setback in their pursuit of the Betway Premiership title, managing to hold the visitors to a 2-2 draw on Friday night, a result that will be celebrated in Pretoria as well.
With the dropped points from Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns now finds themselves in a stronger position in the title race, capitalising on the situation after Pirates were left wishing for what could have been following two stunning long-range goals, though they did manage to equalise late in the match.
Richards Bay strikes first
Richards Bay opened the scoring just 11 minutes into the game, and it was an absolute beauty—a contender for goal of the season.
Simphiwe Mcineka directed the ball back to Thulani Gumede, stationed around 25 yards from goal. His volley was executed to perfection, soaring into the top corner beyond the reach of Sipho Chaine, who had no chance to respond.
Gumede previously netted the winner in Richards Bay’s home victory against Kaizer Chiefs last month, and this latest effort marks his scoring against yet another Soweto side. While it’s only his fifth goal in the Betway Premiership, it will likely stand out as the highlight of his career.
Equaliser for the Pirates
Just six minutes into the second half, Pirates managed to find an equaliser, and who better than Oswin Appollis to do the honours?
Granted, he had the easiest of chances, but with a silky touch, he controlled Relebohile Mofokeng’s cross in the box and, with no defenders in sight, slotted the ball low into the net from just six yards out.
That marked Appollis’s sixth goal in his last nine appearances for both club and country, following closely on the heels of his brace against Lamontville Golden Arrows just days earlier.
Mofokeng deserves a mention as well, having now contributed to 15 goals since January (nine goals, six assists), continuing his outstanding run.
Zikhali puts Richards Bay back in front
However, this joy was short-lived as Pirates succumbed once again to another long-range shot.
Lundi Mahala made a heavy touch on the edge of the box, but the ball fortuitously fell to Lindokuhle Zikhali, who unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards that zipped past Chaine.
It’s uncommon to see Chaine concede from such distance, and although he was close to it, Pirates found themselves on the wrong side of two sensational strikes. This marked the third time this season that they had conceded more than once in a league match.
Before this match, Pirates had conceded just nine goals in 23 league fixtures, but they fell victim to two outstanding efforts.
Zikhali’s goal was notable too, being his first since scoring against Magesi FC in September, and just the fourth of his career.
Last-minute equaliser
As it appeared that Pirates were set to suffer a defeat, they saved themselves with yet another stunning long-range goal.
Lebone Seema collected the ball 35 yards from goal, took a few touches, and then struck an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.
This spectacular effort not only showcased his skill from distance but also ensured Pirates avoided what would have been their first-ever loss to Richards Bay on their home turf in KwaZulu-Natal.
Current standings
While not a devastating blow to Pirates’ title aspirations, they now find themselves in need of a considerable favour from other teams if they hope to overtake Sundowns in the championship race.
The Brazilians currently sit on 56 points with a goal difference of +30, while Pirates are on 55 points with +36, but importantly, they have played one match more.
Given Sundowns’ consistent form in the league, it’s challenging to envision them dropping enough points for Pirates to catch up. However, hope remains alive for the team and their supporters.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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