Gemini said
In a performance that will be etched into the history books of South African football, Orlando Pirates delivered a masterclass at the Mbombela Stadium, dismantling TS Galaxy with a staggering 6-0 victory. The result not only marks the Buccaneers' biggest-ever away win in the PSL era but also propels them to the summit of the Betway Premiership standings.
The match was effectively decided within the opening four minutes. TS Galaxy defender Lentswe Motaung was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Tshepang Moremi, who was clean through on goal. This early dismissal left the Rockets with a mountain to climb against an Orlando Pirates side hungry for the top spot.
Mofokeng’s Masterclass: A Maiden Hat-Trick
The star of the show was undoubtedly the young sensation Relebohile Mofokeng. Fresh off winning the Player of the Month award, Mofokeng opened the scoring from the resulting free-kick after the red card, curling a beautiful effort into the top corner.
Mofokeng didn’t stop there. He completed his first career hat-trick with two second-half strikes, showcasing the technical brilliance that has made him a cornerstone of the Buccaneers’ title charge. His performance was a loud statement to the national team selectors following his recent exclusion from the Bafana Bafana squad.
While Mofokeng took home the match ball, the goals were a collective effort:
6’: Relebohile Mofokeng (Free-kick)
41’: Tshepang Moremi (Clinical finish after a short corner)
44’: Own Goal by Mlungisi Mbunjana (A defensive mishap under pressure)
53’: Relebohile Mofokeng (Second of the afternoon)
64’: Kamogelo Sebelebele (A powerful volley against his former club)
69’: Relebohile Mofokeng (The hat-trick clincher)
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou set his team up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation that exploited the numerical advantage perfectly. With 63% possession and a staggering 29 shots compared to TS Galaxy’s three, the Buccaneers were relentless.
With this win, Orlando Pirates move to 51 points, sitting one point clear of Mamelodi Sundowns. Although Sundowns have games in hand due to their CAF Champions League commitments, the psychological boost of being "top of the log" cannot be overstated. For TS Galaxy, the defeat is a massive blow to their top-eight aspirations, leaving them in 9th place with a severely damaged goal difference.
Orlando Pirates have proven they have the depth and the discipline to maintain a title challenge. If Mofokeng continues this vein of form alongside the creative spark of Oswin Appollis and the defensive stability of Nkosinathi Sibisi, the Sea Robbers are well-positioned to break the Sundowns' monopoly on the league title.
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