Orlando Pirates remain at the summit of the Betway Premiership standings following a hard-fought 1–1 draw against their traditional rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, in the highly anticipated Soweto Derby on Saturday evening.
The result comes as a relief for the Buccaneers, especially after title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a goalless draw away to Richards Bay FC on the same day. The outcome ensures that Pirates maintain their narrow lead at the top of the table in what is shaping up to be a thrilling 2025/26 title race.
Pirates currently sit on 59 points after 26 matches, just one point ahead of Sundowns, who have accumulated 58 points and still have a game in hand. A victory in their next fixture could see the Chloorkop-based side leapfrog Pirates and take control of the title race, adding further pressure on the Soweto giants.
In the derby itself which was delayed for 45 minutes due to the long queues outside the stadium as over 88 000 fans were making their way into the yawning iconic FNB’s mega football venue, both sides struggled to break the deadlock in a tightly contested encounter that seemed destined to end goalless. However, the match sprang to life in the second half when Chiefs took the lead in the 62nd minute through Pule Mmodi, who calmly slotted home to give Amakhosi the advantage.
Pirates, who convincingly won the reverse fixture 3–0, responded with determination. Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Kamogelo Sebelebele found the back of the net to restore parity and rescue a crucial point for the Buccaneers.
With only a handful of matches remaining, the race for the Betway Premiership crown remains wide open, with both Pirates and Sundowns locked in a tense battle for supremacy.
As for Chiefs, every point count as they are pushing for the third place finish, the position which will earn then another opportunity of participating in the CAF Confederations Cup. Last season the Naturena Boys qualified for the competition after on merit that they won the Nedbank Cup, South Africa’s own FA Cup version.
