Orlando Pirates exact revenge on Gallants to seal another Nedbank Cup final berth

Vengeful Orlando Pirates turned the tables on Marumo Gallants to secure their place in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final with a 1-0 win at Orlando Stadium on Sunday. The victory served as retribution for their previous 2-0 defeat in the Betway Premiership a month earlier, and also secured the defending champions a place in the coveted 2025 final.

Pirates dominated from start to finish, with Gallants only managing their first shot at goal late in the first half. From the kick-off, Pirates made their aggressive intentions clear with a vigorous high press. This allowed right-back Deno van Rooyen to surge goalwards and test Gallants’ defence, although his effort was confidently gathered by Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

Gallants wasted no time countering the high press, retaining possession under pressure with quick passing and off-the-ball movement inside their own half. Pirates worked their way to a 60% plus possession advantage and launched several attacking sorties out wide, although they initially failed to threaten Gallants’ goal.

However, the pressure told halfway through the first half, with a move sparked by Van Rooyen deep inside his own half. It was the start of a team goal as the ball was relayed to Patrick Maswanganyi, the central attacking midfielder in the side’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Maswanganyi’s pace down the right channel was too much to contain, and he pulled Gallants’ defence out of position before laying on a cut-back pass for Kabelo Dlamini, whose side-footed shot flew past Arubi. This was the first time Gallants’ defence had been breached in the 2025 competition.

The goal triggered an eruption of song from the Pirates fans, sending the stadium into a frenzy and transforming it into a cacophony of celebration.

Pirates did well to hold on to their lead until the half-time break as they navigated a barrage of aggressive tactics aimed at disrupting their rhythm. Nonetheless, they illustrated their capacity for resilience and held firm.

Gallants’ Moroccan coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, made two changes at the break, introducing Gabadinho Mhango and Christopher Sithole in place of Mlungisi Khumalo and Siyabonga Nhlapo. The changes proved effective but could not undo Pirates’ vice-like grip on the match. As the second half wore on, Gallants saw more of the ball than they had in the opening period.

However, their attacking efforts failed to create genuine scoring chances. Deep into the half, they managed just one more shot on target, matching their poor first-half tally.

Just past the hour mark, Pirates brought on fan favourite Relebohile Mofokeng and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo in place of Dlamini and Mohau Nkota. The substitutions enhanced Pirates’ attacking threat, and they managed several final-third entries in the closing stages of the match, though without adding to their tally.

For Pirates, this victory underscores their impressive unbeaten run in the Nedbank Cup since the commencement of the 2022/23 season under the astute leadership of Spanish coach Jose Riveiro. Under his stewardship, the Buccaneers have forged a path of triumph, driven by a remarkable squad dynamic that continues to yield significant results.

The Pirates’ current form showcases their tactical prowess and unwavering determination, rendering them a formidable force and placing them in a strong position to lift the title for a third consecutive year.

SCORERS

Orlando Pirates (1) 1

Dlamini 22

Marumo Gallants 0