Orlando Pirates closed the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Betway Premiership standings after securing a 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Kabelo Kgositsile and Nkosinathi Sibisi were enough to earn the visitors all three points on the road.
The match began with both teams taking a cautious approach as they looked to settle into the contest. Clear-cut chances were few and far between during the opening ten minutes.
In the 12th minute, Thapelo Mokobodi came close to breaking the deadlock when his free-kick from just outside the box sailed inches over the crossbar.
The Buccaneers, however, enjoyed more possession and were making more frequent inroads into the final third than their opponents.
Although there was limited goal-mouth action, the Sea Robbers looked threatening whenever they moved forward.
Their pressure eventually paid off in the 32nd minute when the Soweto giants opened the scoring. Kabelo Kgositsile found the back of the net after being picked out by a clever chip pass from Mokobodi.
The score was 1-0 at the break with Abdeslam Ouaddou’s troops leading.
In the second half, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa made early efforts to get back into the game, putting together a couple of promising forward movements but struggling to find the breakthrough.
As the half progressed, however, Pirates regained control, restricting the home side’s space and making it difficult for them to build their attacks.
Just after the hour mark, clear-cut chances remained hard to come by for either side as the intensity of the contest dropped somewhat.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Sibisi doubled the lead for Ezimnyama Ngenkani, putting Pirates in a commanding position and making a comeback increasingly difficult for the hosts.
In the closing stages, Pirates remained in control and tightened up defensively, leaving Gallants unable to bounce back.