DStv Premiership Match Preview: Orlando Pirates Targets Strong Finish After Confed Cup Final Disappointment

• Orlando Pirates will take on Maritzburg United in a spillover DStv Premiership at the Orlando Stadium this evening
• The Buccaneers will go into the match badly wounded after losing to RS Berkane in the CAF Confederations Cup final
• Pirates' dreams of African football next season hang by the weakest of threads, needing a perfect ending to the season for this to happen

Even after the final round of fixtures this past weekend the 2021-22 DStv Premiership will still continue as of this evening.

Orlando Pirates will host Maritzburg United at the Orlando Stadium tonight (19:30) in Orlando East. The match is one of three that the Buccaneers have to play as catch-up after their CAF Confederations Cup campaign, which ended in failure after the final defeat on penalties to RS Berkane last Friday in Uyo, Nigeria.

In order to return to continental football next season, Pirates (7th, 40 points) have a simple equation: gain at least seven points to finish level with Stellenbosch FC (third, 47 points) to play in the Confederations Cup, and nine points to tie with Cape Town City (second, 49 points) for a date with the Champions League.

Extended CAF Confederation Cup campaign leaves Orlando Pirates with fixture rescheduling nightmare

Football

Crucially, this is where goal difference will come into play. Pirates' is currently on +5, and they will have to better Stellies' +9 and the Cityzens' +8 for any of these scenarios to play out in their favour.

If they are level with Stellenbosch in this regard, their superior head-to-head record (2-2, 3-0) will break the tie in their favour. On the other hand, a 0-0 away draw and 1-1 home reverse against City will be bad news for them in a similar circumstance because of the away-goals rule.

Besides The People's Team, Pirates will take on Royal AM on Friday night (19.30) and SuperSport United next Monday at the same time.

CAF Confederations Cup final defeat worsens already terrible Orlando Pirates finals record in the last decade

It was yet another disappointment for Orlando Pirates in a continental cup final last night.

As reported by Sports Brief, the Buccaneers were defeated by RS Berkane 5-4 on penalties in the CAF Confederations Cup final after the match ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time.

This was their third loss in an African final since last winning one in 1995.