Orlando Pirates dropped two crucial points in the Betway Premiership title race after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Richards Bay at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex on Friday.
It could have been a lot worse for Abdeslam Ouaddou's side, who were trailing 2-1 in stoppage time before Lebone Seema popped up with a last-gasp equaliser in the 92nd minute.
Thulani Gumede had opened the scoring for the Natal Rich Boyz early on and Lindokuhle Zikhali restored their lead on 59 minutes after Oswin Appollis had levelled matters seven minutes prior.
The Buccaneers are one point behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, having now played one game more, and Papi Zothwane's side climbed up one place to 10th in the standings.
Richards Bay put a dent in Orlando Pirates' title hopes 👀#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/has4HBs5n6
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 10, 2026
Richards Bay were looking to build on their 2-1 win over Stellenbosch in midweek which halted a three-match losing streak, while Pirates had a chance to reclaim top spot after a 5-0 thrashing of Golden Arrows saw them keep pace with the Brazilians and extended their unbeaten run to six games.
The visitors almost hit the front after just three minutes when Kamogelo Sebelebele was played through on goal down the right, but he wasn't able to beat Ian Otieno.
Instead the opener arrived at the other end seven minutes later as Simphiwe Mcineka nodded the ball down for Gumede to lash a volley home from outside the box on the right.
THULANI GUMEDE 🤯
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 10, 2026
The Natal Rich Boyz are launching rockets early on 🚀
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/6HNfwuAV7S
The Soweto giants looked to respond and Thalente Mbatha tested Otieno with a stinging shot on 18 minutes before Yanela Mbuthuma also forced a save out of the Kenyan goalkeeper in the 37th minute.
Bucs made a bright start to the second half, with Masindi Nemtajela giving Otieno more work to do after trying his luck from range on 47 minutes and the they hit back five minutes later.
Appollis did well to control a cross from the left and fired home with his second touch from close range.
However, the hosts were celebrating the lead again just before the hour mark courtesy of Zikhali's first goal in 16 matches and his second of the season.
Pirates piled on the pressure in the second half as they pushed a second goal and Otieno did well to keep out a curling effort from Deon Hotto in the first minute of stoppage time.
However, Seema denied Richards Bay back-to-back wins when he struck moments later to rescue a point for the MTN8 champions.
Richards Bay (1) 2 (Gumede 10', Zikhali 59')
Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Appollis 52', Seema 90+2')
RICHARDS BAY: I. Otieno, L. Mabuya, Z. Sbangani, S. Mcineka, T. Sikhakhane, B. Nashixwa, S. Barns (W. Ngema 66'), M. Mthembu (L. Khumalo 86'), L. Zikhali, T. Gumede (T. Mthethwa 71'), L. Mahala (N. Bomelo 66').
ORLANDO PIRATES: S. Chaine, K. Sebelebele, L. Seema, N. Sibisi, D. Hotto, T. Mbatha, M. Nemtajela, O. Appollis (A. de Jong 68'), R. Mofokeng, T. Moremi (P. Maswanganyi 77'), Y. Mbuthuma (E. Makgopa 56').