Orlando Pirates suffered their first league defeat of the Betway Premiership season with a 1-0 reverse to Stellenbosch on Sunday.
Devin Titus scored the only goal of the match at the Orlando Stadium after 33 minutes to lift his side into third place on the Betway Premiership standings with 15 points from eight games.
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Pirates ended the afternoon in second place with 21 points, level Mamelodi Sundowns, who recorded a comprehensive 3-0 win over Sekhkhune United to move top of the table.
Evidence Makgopa was first in with a chance in this match with a close-range shot he fired straight at Sage Stephens.
Relebohile Mofokeng came close to an opener with a curling effort that flew just past the right-hand upright on the half-hour mark.
The miss was crucial as Titus gave his side the lead with his pinpoint strike following a quick Stellies counter-attack.
Patrick Maswanganyi had one last chance before half-time with a free-kick inside the box, but he failed to get the ball past a compact visiting defence.
Half-time Bucs substitute Kabelo Dlamini, on for Makhehlene Makhaula, looked to make an impact and was unlucky with a drive that came back off the Stellenbosch crossbar.
The home side continued to ring the changes in search of a difference-maker but despite their constant pressure, the Stellies defence held firm, and secured the points with a late save from Stephens to keep out a goal-bound Nkosinathi Sibisi shot.
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— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) December 2, 2024
