Reigning Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates continued their impressive start to the 2026/27 league campaign following a 2-0 win over Sekhukhune United at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night.

In a game where clear cut opportunities were hard to come by throughout the 90 minutes, Boitumelo Radiopane and Oswin Appollis scored in each half to make the difference for the Sea Robbers on home soil.

The game commenced timidly at the Orlando Amstel Arena with Sbangani Zulu creating the first attempt at goal with a right footed shot inside the area following a quick passing move en-route to the Babina Noko goal.

Sekhukhune did little to trouble the Pirates backline as the midway point of the first-half approached, while Kamogelo Sebelebele and Daniel Msendami racked up the goal scoring attempts.

Pirates came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock at the half-hour mark after Radiopane struck the woodwork with a left-footed shot from the side of the 18-yard-area.

With Radiopane knocking, the Bucs striker opened the scoring 10 minutes from the first-half whistle after combining with Sebelebele on the edge of the area. After being played through on goal with a curling through ball, Radiopane made the most of the assist with a well-taken right-footed shot from an acute angle.

Sekhukhune came close to getting their name on the scoresheet in the 55th minute after D’Angelo Kazeem found Mokibelo Ramabu inside the danger zone with a telling cross, however, the latter’s headed attempt went narrowly wide of the mark.

Pirates doubled their advantage moments after the hour-mark and capitilized on Sekhukhune’s broken defensive shape with inscive play from Radiopane and Appollis. Following a swift break, Radiopane found himself through on goal before picking out Appollis, who found the back of the net with a calm finish, despite on-rushing defenders on the goal line.  

Firmly in the driver’s seat, Pirates continued to hold most of the ball during the closing stages of the game while Sekhukhune often fell short at the final hurdle.

Despite a late attack from Tshepo Mokoane and Oageng Phiri toward the Pirates goal, the Soweto club managed to hold on and preserved their clean sheet until the final whistle.

Orlando Pirates: (1) 2 (Radiopane 36’, Appollis 62)

Sekhukhune United: 0

Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Hotto, Zulu, Seema, Sebelebele, Mthiyane, Mokobodi (Mmolai 84’), Appollis (Selepe 75’), Masilela (Pedersen 75’), Msendami (Kgositsile 59’), Radiopane (Ngwato 78’)

Sekhukhune United: Buthelezi, Ndlozi, Matsimbi, Cardoso (Mahlangu 82’), Kazeem, Mkhize (Tlaka 75’), Khiba, Rammala (Mokoane 64’), Mojela (Phiri 75’), Ramabu (Nkwana 63’), Ndlovu