Oswin Appolis of Orlando Pirates challenged by Abuyela Maxwele of Lamontville Golden Arrows during the Betway Premiership match at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night.
Image: BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates (3) 5
Mofokeng 16’, 61’, Appollis 30’ 92, Jiyane (OG)
Golden Arrows (0) 0
Relebohile Mofokeng stole the show as Orlando Pirates kept their Betway Premiership title hopes alive with a 5-0 win over Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.
Fresh off a hat-trick in his previous club outing, the 21-year-old continued his scintillating form with a brace, guiding the Buccaneers to 54 points — just two behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who edged Durban City in KZN on the night in an increasingly tense title race.
Pirates wasted little time asserting control, with Mofokeng setting the tone early.
After striking the upright inside the opening minute, he broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a moment of quality.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, the Bafana Bafana number ten shifted effortlessly before curling a stunning effort into the top corner for his fourth goal in two matches.
The hosts maintained their intensity and doubled their advantage in the 30th minute through Oswin Appollis, who also scored a brace in the match.
A quickly taken free kick caught Arrows completely off guard, leaving the winger unmarked from distance.
He needed no second invitation, drilling a low, precise shot into the bottom corner as the goalkeeper was left stranded.
Arrows’ struggles deepened before the break as they conceded a third in unfortunate fashion. Under pressure in the box, captain Ayanda Jiyane turned the ball into his own net, capping off a disastrous first half for the visitors.
With a comfortable lead at the interval, Pirates remained in control and continued to dominate proceedings after the restart.
Mofokeng returned to the spotlight in the second half to complete his brace, adding a fourth goal that underlined his growing stature.
Showcasing another dimension to his game, he glided past multiple defenders with composure before calmly passing the ball into the bottom corner — a finish that reflected both confidence and class.
It was a performance that not only secured three points but also reinforced Pirates’ attacking credentials as the title race intensifies.
For Golden Arrows, it was a night to forget, as they struggled to contain Pirates’ fluid attacking play and were punished for lapses in concentration throughout the match.
For Pirates, however, the message was clear — with Mofokeng leading the charge, they remain firmly in pursuit of the summit.