Orlando Pirates missed the chance to move to the top of the PSL table after suffering a 1-0 loss to Cape Town City on Wednesday, 8 January 2025. The game’s only goal came in the 74th minute when Darwin Gonzalez scored from a deflected shot. This came just moments after Pirates striker Patrick Maswanganyi missed a penalty, which could have put his team ahead.
The penalty miss left Pirates fans frustrated, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment, claiming some players wasted the opportunity to secure three vital points. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Pirates failed to capitalize, while Cape Town City made them pay for their misses.

For Cape Town City, it was a great start for interim coach Muhsin Ertugral, who took over from Eric Tinkler at the beginning of January 2025. Ertugral, who had previously joined as the clubβs new technical director, has now led City to two straight victories. His tactical approach, bringing European style and a solid low-block defense, has proven effective, with both wins coming from counter-attacking goals.
Jose Riveiro, Orlando Pirates’ head coach, will be disappointed after his teamβs performance, which saw them squander their chances to close the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. The match, which started slowly, came to life in the second half when Pirates were awarded a soft penalty for a foul by Tshegofatso Nyama on Maswanganyi. Despite protests from City players, Maswanganyi’s spot-kick struck the post, and goalkeeper Darren Keet was able to gather the rebound. Moments later, Relebohile Mofokeng came close to scoring after a dazzling run into the box, but his final pass was poorly executed, allowing City to clear the danger.