Orlando Pirates’ Heavy Defeat: 5 Key Reasons Behind Their 4-1 Collapse Against Sundowns

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Orlando Pirates received a harsh wake-up call with a heavy 4-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns over the weekend.

Coming into the match, the Buccaneers were just six points behind Sundowns and had the chance to close the gap with a win, especially with a game in hand. However, Sundowns proved too dominant, taking all three points at Loftus Versfeld.

As a result of the defeat, Orlando Pirates now find themselves nine points adrift of Sundowns. This was the third time in a row the Pirates have lost to Sundowns in league play, prompting an analysis of five key factors that contributed to their poor performance:

1. Thabiso Sesane’s Injury: Sesane has been one of the standout defenders for Pirates this season. With key defenders Thapelo Xoki and Olisa Ndah also sidelined, Sesane had been crucial to the team’s backline. But his injury forced Xoki into action against Sundowns, and he struggled, particularly when Lucas Ribeiro exploited his lack of match fitness in such a high-pressure encounter.
2. Lack of Quality at Left-Back: While Sundowns had Aubrey Modiba providing a solid presence at left-back, Pirates chose Paseko Mako in that role over Innocent Maela. This left a gap, as Mako struggled to handle the threat of Thapelo Morena’s overlapping runs. Deon Hotto, usually a left-back, was deployed on the wing to handle attacking duties, but this created further defensive imbalances.
3. Weak Midfield: Kabelo Dlamini appeared overwhelmed alongside Makhehleni Makhaula in the Pirates midfield, as Sundowns dominated this area. This became especially evident when Teboho Mokoena scored a brilliant goal to make it 4-1, highlighting the Pirates’ lack of control in the middle of the park.
4. Limited Bench and Lack of Impact Substitutes: The Pirates bench lacked depth, with Tshegofatso Mabasa coming on in the second half but failing to make a meaningful difference. Meanwhile, players like Monnapule Saleng, who could have potentially changed the game, had not played in two months and wasn’t called upon.
5. Poor Decision-Making: Throughout the season, Pirates and Sundowns seemed closely matched, but Sundowns were the more refined team. After a period of poor form under former coach Manqoba Mngqithi, Sundowns bounced back after his departure, winning every league match since then. Despite Pirates’ strong league position, their performances often lacked cohesion, relying on individual brilliance to secure wins rather than solid team play.

This loss serves as a wake-up call for Orlando Pirates, reminding them of the work still needed to challenge for the title.