Orlando Pirates moved up to fourth place in the DStv Premiership after a 4-1 rout over Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In what was possibly the worst performance of relegation-threatened Stellenbosch this season, Pirates took advantage of the side looking devoid of confidence.
Their usual buoyant high-pressing front-line was nonexistent without a focal point and the absence of their attacking talisman Junior Mendieta.
Thabang Monare’s opener in the seventh minute with a well-time header set the tone for the half and the second was a gift.
Sage Stephens came out for a floated free-kick into the area and missed it completely before captain Innocent Maela slotted it into an empty net.
It was one-way traffic in the second half too as the scorching heat at high altitude clearly killed the spirits of the trailing visitors before Kermit Erasmus and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo added to the scoreline.
The first saw Monnapule Saleng skin his marker and set up Erasmus for a simple tap-in while the diminutive Ndlondlo smashed one from outside the area into the bottom right corner of the net, leaving Stephens with no chance.
Pirates seemingly took their foot off the pedal and allowed Steve Barker’s side to gain a bit of possession and they took advantage of it when their first corner of the game led to Mervin Boji scoring his first professional goal for the club.
But the 74th-minute goal to make it 4-1 was a case of too little too late as Pirates held firm and secured a morale-boosting three points to move ahead of their rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United into fourth place in the league.
