Stellenbosch FC ended Orlando Pirates record start to the season inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the Premiership title chasers at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Devin Titus scored the winning goal shortly after the half-hour mark in a swift counter-attacking goal after being set up by Ashley Cupido.
Pirates came into the game in second place with seven wins from the opening seven games, a club record and high on confidence after a 2-1 win in Algeria over CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League group stage opener.
While Stellies were chasing three points to move into third, at the back off a gruelling trip to West Africa where they lost 2-0 to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Steve Barker’s side weren’t at the fluent best, presumably fatigued after only landing in Johannesburg this weekend, after first returning to the Western Cape after their group stage opener on Wednesday.
And for all Pirates attacking endeavour, with Patrick Maswanganyi, Evidence Makgopa, Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng in flying form, they failed get the better of Sage Stephens who was under siege for large spells of the second half.
Kabelo Dlamini, a second-half change at the break for Makhehlene Makhaula came closest to the equaliser when he rattled the crossbar, but the visitors somehow managed to hold firm with waves of attacks from the Buccaneers.
The win moves them into third place, where they finished last season, with 15 points in eight games, six behind Pirates, who missed the chance to move back into first place ahead of reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
