Pirates beat AmaZulu to go second

Orlando Pirates thumped AmaZulu FC 4-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.

The victory took the Buccaneers to second spot on the league standings, while Usuthu remained 11th on the table.

The Buccaneers launched attacks from the start, but Usuthu were able to contain the home side in the first 15 minutes of the match.

AmaZulu managed to take the lead following a quick counter-attack, with Michael Morton setting up Jabulani Ncobeni, who scored to make it 1-0 to the visitors in the 17th minute.

However, Pirates responded with a goal three minutes later when Vincent Pule's low cross was turned home by Kudakwashe Mahachi to make it 1-1.

Bucs then took the lead for the first time four minutes before halftime through Luvuyo Memela, who scored to make it 2-1 to Pirates after being set-up by Justin Shonga.

The momentum was with Pirates and they extended their lead through Shonga after receiving a low cross from Lorch on the stroke of halftime.

Pirates were leading 3-1 against AmaZulu at the interval.

Usuthu coach Cavin Johnson introduced Sammy Darpoh five minutes after the restart as the visitors looked to regain control of the midfield.

However, the visitors were unable to seriously test Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands with Alfred Ndengane working hard in the hosts' defence.

Johnson's counterpart, Milutin Sredojevic, pulled out Pule and he introduced defensive-minded player Asavela Mbekile.

Both teams launched attacks in the closing stages of the encounter and it was the hosts who grabbed a late goal through Ben Motshwari.

The midfielder fired home to seal Pirates' 4-1 win over AmaZulu in the 83rd minute after the visitors had failed to clear their lines.

PIRATES (3) 4 (Mahachi 20', Memela 41', Shonga 44', Motshwari 83')

AMAZULU (1) 1 (Ncobeni 17')