By Reigning champions Orlando Pirates maintained their formidable start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season with a clinical 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night. Elsewhere, TS Galaxy prevailed 3-2 against Marumo Gallants in a dramatic five-goal showdown at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, while Siwelele FC and Chippa United fought to a 1-1 stalemate in Bloemfontein.
Pirates Cruise Past Sekhukhune at Orlando Amstel Arena
At the Orlando Amstel Arena, Orlando Pirates displayed championship composure to unlock a stubborn Sekhukhune United defence.
The opening exchanges were cagey, with Sbangani Zulu forcing the initial attempt on goal for the hosts via a swift passing combination. Sekhukhune struggled to establish an attacking rhythm against a disciplined Bucs backline, despite early efforts from Kamogelo Sebelebele and Daniel Msendami.
Pirates issued a clear warning sign on the half-hour mark when Boitumelo Radiopane rattled the woodwork with a sharp left-footed strike from the edge of the 18-yard box. Ten minutes later, Radiopane breached the defence. Latching onto a curling through-ball from Sebelebele, the forward drove home a precise right-footed finish from an acute angle to put the hosts ahead heading into the break.
Sekhukhune pushed for an equalizer early in the second stanza. D’Angelo Kazeem whipped a inviting cross into the box in the 55th minute, but Mokibelo Ramabu’s header drifted narrowly wide.
The Buccaneers capitalized on that reprieve just seven minutes later. Catching Sekhukhune’s defensive structure out of shape on the counter-attack, Radiopane broke free before unselfishly teeing up Oswin Appollis, who calmly slotted past the onrushing defenders to double the lead.
Pirates dictated the tempo through the closing stages, repelling late attempts from Tshepo Mokoane and Oageng Phiri to secure all three points alongside a clean sheet.
Match Details:
- Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Radiopane 36’, Appollis 62’)
- Sekhukhune United (0) 0
Five-Goal Thriller: TS Galaxy Edge Out Gallants
The Royal Bafokeng Stadium produced the evening’s most frantic drama as TS Galaxy squeezed past winless Marumo Gallants 3-2.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa caught the Rockets cold in the fourth minute when Thabiso Mkhwanazi set up Msindisi Ndlovu for a cool finish. However, Galaxy regrouped swiftly. In-form forward Victor Letsoalo leveled the score in the 21st minute, registering his third goal in four outings to ensure the teams went into half-time locked at 1-1.
The Rockets surged ahead early in the second half. Turning from playmaker to finisher, George pounced on defensive hesitation from Gallants in the 49th minute to make it 2-1. On the hour mark, Galaxy extended their cushion after being awarded a penalty, which Letsoalo converted with complete composure.
Gallants pulled one back in the 74th minute through former Galaxy player Onke Moletshe, setting up a tense climax. Nevertheless, Galaxy weathered the late onslaught to secure the victory, climbing to eighth place on the table—just two points behind second-placed Kaizer Chiefs. Gallants remain rooted near the bottom in 15th place.
Match Details:
- Marumo Gallants (1) 2 (Ndlovu 4′, Moletshe 74′)
- TS Galaxy (1) 3 (Letsoalo 21′, 60′ pen, George 49′)
Honors Even at Free State Stadium
At the Free State Stadium, Siwelele FC and Chippa United shared the spoils in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, leaving both sides still searching for their first league victory of the campaign.
Siwelele dominated the overall sequence of play in the opening period. Vincent Pule tested Chippa shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali with a firm strike from the left side of the area in the 32nd minute, but the Nigerian international reacted sharply at his near post. Early in the second half, Nwabali was called into action again, tipping Yandisa Mfolozi’s long-range bomb over the bar.
Against the run of play, Chippa took the lead in the 52nd minute. Sammy Seabi picked out Azola Matrose, who cut inside from the right flank before blasting a powerful left-footed strike past Samukelo Xulu.
Siwelele responded by upping their offensive tempo and restored parity in the 75th minute. Mfolozi latched onto an incisive pass from Relebogile Mokhuoane to loop a first-time finish over Nwabali. While Siwelele pushed hard for a late winner, Chippa’s rear-guard held firm to claim a point on the road.
Match Details:
- Siwelele FC (0) 1 (Mfolozi 75’)
- Chippa United (0) 1 (Matrose 52’)
