Pirates keep Sundowns looking over their shoulder after sinking Gallants

The Betway Premiership title race is beginning to tighten at the top, with Orlando Pirates turning a busy week into maximum points to move within touching distance of Mamelodi Sundowns.

The defending champions followed Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Durban City with another routine win on Sunday, beating Marumo Gallants 2-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to climb to 19 points from seven matches – just one behind Sundowns, who have played eight.

Lebone Seema and Tshepang Moremi had helped Pirates see off Durban City in midweek, cutting the gap to the league leaders to four points before the Buccaneers travelled to Rustenburg.

This time, Kabelo Kgositsile and veteran defender Nkosinathi Sibisi provided the goals as Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side extended their unbeaten start to the Premiership season.

The result leaves Pirates with five wins and one draw from their seven league outings, while their 16 goals underline the attacking momentum that has accompanied their title defence.

Sundowns remain top with 20 points from eight matches and 19 goals scored, but Pirates’ game in hand means the gap is far less comfortable than it first appeared.

At the opposite end of the table, Gallants remain in trouble.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have collected only two points from seven matches and have scored five goals while conceding 13, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Sunday’s encounter did not immediately suggest there would be a two-goal winning margin.

The opening stages were cagey, with neither side willing to commit too many bodies forward. Pirates gradually began to take control, however, enjoying more possession and finding increasingly dangerous positions in the final third.

Thapelo Mokobodi almost broke the deadlock in the 12th minute