![Laduma! Viral soccer goals: Mamelodi Sundowns' Gastón Sirino [VIDEO]](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/db42fee8-mamelodi-sundowns-vs-orlando-pirates-last-time-out-414x276.jpg)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 15: Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates and Gaston Sirino of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on January 15, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates: Last time out [video]
Here is how things panned out the last time Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates last met.
![Laduma! Viral soccer goals: Mamelodi Sundowns' Gastón Sirino [VIDEO]](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/db42fee8-mamelodi-sundowns-vs-orlando-pirates-last-time-out-800x529.jpg)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 15: Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates and Gaston Sirino of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on January 15, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Dobsonville Stadium hosts the much-awaited clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, in what is the first top-flight league match since March.
The announcement that the Absa Premiership would be suspended indefinitely was made on Tuesday 17 March, just hours before the two giants of SA football were due to square off.
Recapping what went down the last time out
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates last locked horns in January at a buzzing Orlando Stadium, and the action in the middle of the park did not disappoint.
The Buccaneers – host on the day – were unbeaten in their last four matches, while the Brazilians had an even longer streak without a defeat, last finishing on the losing side in November.
The visitors could have taken an early lead in the 16th minute with a goal from an unlikeliest of sources in defender Anele Ngcongca, but the woodwork kept the ball out.
Shortly after that, Sundowns maintained their dominance but were kept out by some good defence, with Wayne Sandilands and Happy Jele blocking out shots from Thapelo Morena and Gaston Sirino in quick succession.
It took until the half-hour mark for an opening to be found, this time at the other end, where the in-form Gabadinho Mhango got on the end of a pass from Luvuyo Memela and finished calmly to make it 1-0.
That solitary goal proved decisive, as neither side managed to find the back of the next throughout the remaining hour.
Watch Orlando Pirates 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns highlights in video below:
Growing rivalry
It’s no secret that Orlando Pirates’ biggest rivals are Kaizer Chiefs, but competition between the Buccaneers and the Tshwane giants in recent years has been quite riveting.
In the past two seasons, the two clubs have finished in the top two, with very little to choose between them in terms of head-to-head results.
In the four matches played between the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns, each side has registered a single win apiece, both coming in the other’s backyard. The other two fixtures have finished without a goal scored.
Remarkably, Pirates’ win in January was their first league victory at home to Sundowns since February 2011.
The match on Tuesday kicks off at 18:00, and will be broadcast on Supersport 4 (SS4) and SABC 3.
