Orlando Pirates moved up to third place in the DStv Premiership after thrashing Golden Arrows 7-1 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.
The heavens were pouring prior to kickoff and it blessed eSgodni four goals under the lights at Orlando where Arrows produced a shambolic 90 minutes of play.
From spurning their clear-cut chances to having a defence that was cut open with consummate ease, they made a recently out-of-sorts Pirates look like world beaters.
The home side raced into a three goal lead after just over half an hour with Tshegofatsa Mabasa, Relebohile Mofokeng and Kabelo Dlamini finding the net.
Mabasa even had the luxury of missing a penalty on the brink of half-time which hardly affected the outcome of the game.
The South Africa international striker, who was deemed surplus to requirements at the club and went out on back-to-back loan deals with Sekhukhune United and Moroka Swallows respectively – returned in January and is now a genuine Golden Boot contender.
He hattrick that took his overall tally to 10 goals, one ahead of Cape Town City star Khanyisa Mayo and level with Lucas Ribeiro Costa of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Substitutes Sandile Mthethwa and Karim Kimvuidi got in the action prior to ‘Sniper’ securing his treble while Lungelo Nguse scored the consolation for the reeling Arrows.
Three points moved Pirates into third, two points off second placed Stellenbosch, albeit having played one game more than the Cape Winelands outfit.
Meanwhile it was Steve Komphela’s first defeat since his return to Arrows, having won his first two games in charge, but now sees them drop to ninth in the standings.
