Orlando Pirates have strengthened their dominance in the Betway Premiership title race by securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Tuesday evening.
The Pirates team maintains its leading position in the league table with 13 points, giving them a three-point advantage over second-placed Mamelod Sundowns. Mamelod Sundowns has a bye and will play at home against Milford on Wednesday night.
This win boosts Pirates' confidence as they now shift focus to continental football. In the first round of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, they will face La Cure Sylvester from Mauritius away on Saturday afternoon (at 13:30).
For Pirates, the priority this season remains qualifying for the group stage of the League Championship, especially after their previous campaign was marred by elimination in the final qualification round last season.
Starting the season strongly—winning six and drawing one of the first seven matches across all competitions—Pirates also reached the MTN8 final for the fifth consecutive time. On Tuesday night, the team aimed to maintain this momentum.
They succeeded in doing so by causing further trouble for the newcomers, Kruger. Ironically, this team, dubbed the 'league punching bags,' is at the bottom of the table with only one point from five matches.
Pirates quickly took the lead, as expected. Mascot Ghampani Lungu scored a penalty after referee Joseph Makhubo, following his assistant's advice, ruled that Vusi Sibiya had pushed Kamogelo Sebelebele inside the penalty area.
The runaway pirates faced an issue when Lungu had to leave the field due to injury, and he was replaced by Oswin Appollis. Although the Bafana Bafana international player added elegance to the attack, Kruger tried to change the game's course by attacking purposefully.
Makhubo initially refused to award a penalty to 'The Village Boys' after a shot by Aphiwe Mphothe hit Lebone Seema's arm near the goal. The referee's decision seemed correct, as Seema's arm was pressed against his body.
The hosts did not despair and launched a wave of attacks. Their efforts were almost successful when a diagonal pass into the box found Mphothe, who headed the ball down. However, this shot was deflected wide of Sibangani Zulu's line while Sipho Chen was fully stretched.
Unfortunately, Kruger could not equalize before halftime. Ebrahim Sidat delivered an inviting cross that reached the unnoticed Mlungisi Zwane, but his final shot hit the post near the near post.
After surviving the initial half-time dangers, Pirates increased the pressure. Botumelo Radiopan scored his second goal in two consecutive league matches after Appollis crossed the ball to him, calmly slotting it past Fiakre Ntwari from close range.
Pirates attempted to increase the lead, and coach Abdelsalam Waddu introduced fresh players: Yanelu Mbutu and Simphiwe Selepe. Mbutu continued his impressive form—after scoring twice against Sekhukhune United in the MTN8 semi-final last Saturday—by scoring a goal after an Appollis pass, bypassing the offside trap and directing the ball into the net past Ntwari. Mbutu's brace helped ease the pressure after his recent drought while helping Pirates maintain a comfortable position at the top of the table.