Pirates move three points clear at the top

Luvuyo Memela and Thembinkosi Lorch found the back of the net for Orlando Pirates in a 2-0 win over Black Leopards at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening, as the Soweto giants move three points clear atop the league standings.

Victory moves the Buccaneers up to 47 points in the league, three points ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns who sit on 44 points, albeit having played two games less than Pirates.

Leopards remain in 12th place following the defeat, a mere point above the relegation zone.

The hosts made all the right moves in the opening exchanges and after a sustained spell of pressure, they opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the match.

Leopards conceded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Memela made the visitors pay, striking a crisp left-footed shot past Leopards goalkeeper Rotshidzwa Muleka and into the corner of the net.

Pirates should've doubled their lead through Justin Shonga four minutes later, but after the ball fell rather fortuitously at his feat, the forward could only succeed in firing his shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

The Buccaneers continued to dominate proceedings and squandered a further chance in the 41st minute as Musa Nyatama guided his header attempt wide of goal.

Shonga was at fault once more on the cusp of halftime as Pirates again failed to convert a gilt-edged chance. The Zambian forward darted ahead of Muleka to meet a low cross into the area, but his attempt flew wide of goal.

Lidoda Duvha finally conjured a shot on target eight minutes after the interval through Karabo Tshepe, but Wayne Sandilands was alert to the danger to punch the midfielder's shot clear of danger.

Lorch and Shonga teamed up for another chance in the 72nd minute, but neither could convert with the latter guiding his effort from an acute angle onto the woodwork.

Pirates were almost made to rue their catalogue of missed chances three minutes later, as Mwape Musonda rose to meet a cross into the area. His attempt had Sandilands worried, but lucky for the hosts the crossbar denied the forward a 14th goal for the season.

Lorch finally doubled their lead in the 80th minute. The forward broke the offside trap before nodding home past Muleka to seal all three points for the hosts who could move even further clear at the top with victory over Free State Stars this weekend, at the same venue.

Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Memela 23' Lorch 80')

Black Leopards (0) 0

Orlando Pirates: Sandilands; Jele, Munetsi, Maela, Dube, Motshwari, Nyatama (Gabuza 82'), Memela (Makola 71'), Qalinge (Pule 61'), Shonga, Lorch.

Black Leopards: Muleka; Munyai, Katjiukua, Munganga, Zulu, Mudau (Mhlongo 83'), Masalesa, Bereng, Sekotlong (Hlongwane 66'), Tshepe (Kapinga 78'), Musonda.