Orlando Pirates put together a professional performance at Orlando Stadium, seeing off Sekhukhune United 2-0 in a Matchday 4 Betway Premiership clash that also doubled as a quick-turnaround rematch of their MTN8 quarter-final just three days earlier.

The opening exchanges were scrappy and stop-start, with fouls disrupting any real rhythm and few clear-cut chances created.

Sbangani Zulu forced the first save of the match inside two minutes, while Daniel Msendami also tested Melusi Buthelezi with a low diagonal effort. But Pirates couldn’t find the breakthrough in a frustrating opening half-hour against a well-organised Sekhukhune defence.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute. Kamogelo Sebelebele’s driving run through midfield created the opening, and Boitumelo Radiopane finished emphatically.
The young striker curled a right-footed effort into the top corner to send the hosts into the lead. Sekhukhune tried to respond before the break — Bright Ndlovu’s header from a Siyabonga Ndlozi cross drifting just wide — but Pirates held their advantage at half-time.

The second half followed a similar pattern early on, with Sekhukhune pushing for an equaliser and Mokibelo Ramabu glancing a header just off target from a corner. But Pirates doubled their lead in the 61st minute in ruthless fashion: Radiopane, the provider this time, cut through the middle and squared for Oswin Appollis, who drilled a right-footed finish beyond Buthelezi to make it 2-0.

From there, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side managed the game comfortably, rotating fresh legs off the bench — including a first involvement for new signing Sebastian Pedersen — while Sekhukhune’s Lehlogonolo Mojela picked up a first-half booking and Sbangani Zulu was cautioned late on as the contest lost some of its shape in the closing stages.

It’s back-to-back wins over Sekhukhune inside a week for Pirates, following Sunday’s 1-0 MTN8 quarter-final victory courtesy of a Deon Hotto strike, and continues a promising start to the league campaign after Sunday’s rout of Chippa United.

For Sekhukhune coach Cedric Kaze, it’s now three matches in the space of a week catching up with his squad — a heavy schedule that left his side looking a little heavy-legged by full time.

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