The South African Premiership title race will go to the final day after Orlando Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by Durban City at the Orlando Amstel Arena, the report says. The result denied Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side a chance to all but seal their first crown in 14 years.
Per the report, Mamelodi Sundowns — who have won the last eight Premiership titles — finished the league season early with 68 points from 30 games and a goal difference of +36 as they prepare for a two-legged CAF Champions League final against Morocco’s AS FAR. Pirates now sit on 66 points from 29 matches; had they beaten Durban City their goal difference of +44 would have made them almost unassailable. The report says Pirates must beat Orbit College at Mbombela Stadium next Saturday to be champions, with anything less handing Sundowns a ninth successive title.
The match itself underlined issues for Pirates breaking down physical teams that set up to frustrate them, per the report. Durban City did not register a shot on target but their structure and physicality proved effective while goalkeeper Fredrick Asare and centre-back Siphamandla Ncanana produced standout performances. Pirates peppered the visitors with long-range strikes early, but lacked the incisive pass to unlock the defence.
Key moments included Relebohile Mofokeng’s 26th-minute effort that went straight down Asare’s throat and Oswin Appollis being halted in the penalty area by an expertly timed Ncanana challenge in the 35th minute. Evidence Makgopa replaced Yanela Mbuthuma after Mbuthuma limped off in the 39th minute, and Thalente Mbatha had a shot blocked just before half-time as the home crowd grew increasingly anxious, the report says.
The low block persisted after half-time. Mofokeng had a 54th-minute free-kick pushed away and a corner in the 56th minute led to Patrick Maswanganyi firing well off target, while Appollis produced an overhead attempt minutes later that went just over. Late efforts included Appollis’s 75th-minute long-range strike tipped wide by Asare, two long-range attempts from Mofokeng in the 79th and 81st minutes, and further close calls before the final whistle. The report says Pirates will need an urgent response against Orbit to secure the title.
