Mbuthuma Answers His Critics As Pirates Thrash Kruger
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Orlando Pirates cemented top spot in the Betway Premiership with a 4-0 victory over newly-promoted Kruger United on Tuesday night at Mbombela Stadium.
Betway PremiershipTeams: Kruger United v Orlando PiratesResult: 0-4Scorers: Lungu (4′), Radiopane (54′), Mbuthuma (79′, 92′)
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou handed a start to Boitumelo Radiopane, who led the with aplomb in the league win over Sekhukhune United seven days ago while Cemran Dansin returned in midfield after being rested for the last two games.
The Buccaneers endured a mixed opening 10 minutes at Mbombela Stadium, as they got the opening goal as early as the fourth minute after Gamphani Lungu converted a penalty, however the new signing’s evening came to an end minutes later after picking up an injury, with Oswin Appollis coming on as his replacement.
Kruger remained on the back foot for most of the first half and whenever the did manage to win possession off the Buccaneers, they were too rushed on the ball and often gave it back straight to the opposition.
The top-flight debutants, however, did learn from their earlier mistakes as the first half went on as they became a lot composed both in defence and on the ball, while they did provide a serious threat from corners and long throw-ins, as Aphiwe Mpothwe saw his effort cleared off the line by Sbangani Zulu.
However, Pirates came out for the second half and got the two-goal advantage when Appollis intercepted a loose pass in the opposition half and played a well-weighted ball for Radiopane, who sent a neat finish into the far corner.
That proved to be Radiopane’s final involvement as coach Ouaddou withdrew the striker for Yanela Mbuthuma on the hour mark while Simphiwe Selepe also got some minutes after replacing Dansin in the midfield for the final 30 minutes.
Mbuthuma’s moment finally arrived with 12 minutes left on the clock as the striker opened his account for the campaign by turning home a cross from Appollis, who was played in by a lovely pass from Thapelo Mokobodi as Kruger had no answer for their Soweto counter-parts.
The third goal killed off any momentum from the home side, who were unable to build on their strong finish to the first half while Pirates went on to grab a fourth goal in second-half stoppage time when Mbuthuma completed his brace with a lovely finish from distance after spotting Fiacre Ntwari off his line.
Kruger United: TS Galaxy (A), Stellenbosch (H), Chippa United (A)
Orlando Pirates: Durban City (H), Marumo Gallants (A), TS Galaxy (H)
Sep 06, 2026 08:26 AM
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