Orlando Pirates delivered a clinical display on the road to walk off 3-0 winners in their Betway Premiership clash against Chippa United at Kings Park on Sunday.
It was the perfect way to sign off a weeklong stay in Durban for the Buccaneers, who collected their first away win of the 2026/27 season. The result took them from fifth place to the top of the league standings after three matches played.
In their second outing in the coastal city, Pirates were looking to sign off on a winning note but met some resistance from their hosts. Their first real chances came off the boot of Oswin Appollis, who drew saves off goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali with efforts from outside the box.
Having been made to defend for most of the opening quarter, Chippa did find their way into the opposition half where Sirgio Kammies went close with a right-footed shot that drifted wide.
The two sides then traded free kicks with former Bucs defender Abbubaker Mobara failing to trouble Sipho Chaine with his effort from the set piece, while Deon Hotto’s attempt from a dead-ball situation required a bit more work from Nwabali who managed to tip the ball over the crossbar. There was a scare inside the Pirates box late in the first half when midfielder Goodman Mosele was left unmarked, only to send his shot across goal.
After drawing blanks for much of the opening period, the visitors showed a bit more intent when they emerged from the tunnel. The home side’s defence however remained resolute, limiting entries into their final third.
The resistance only lasted 15 minutes into the second half, with Gamphani Lungu finally breaking the deadlock when he fired in from a tight angle inside the box to make it 1-0.
One goal quickly led to the second, as Lebone Seema made it 2-0 just three minutes later. The centre-back nodded in from a set piece when he leapt high from the back post to guide the ball into the back of the net.
Chippa’s attempts at clawing their way back met an uphill climb as Pirates maintained their dominance during the latter part of the contest. The Chilli Boys did manage a shot at goal through a set piece taken by Bandile Dlamini, but Chaine had a final say as he pulled off an excellent save.
A clumsy error at the back further complicated the home side’s chances of an unlikely comeback when Daniel Msendami turned possession over deep inside opposition territory before firing past Nwabali for the visitors’ third goal of the afternoon with only three minutes left on the clock.
That turned out to be the action that sealed the result as Pirates controlled the rest of the contest to take a clean sheet and three crucial away points early in their title defence.