Orlando Pirates bounced back from last week’s defeat with a 2-0 triumph over TS Galaxy at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.
No Vincent Pule meant a return for Kabelo Dlamini and Deon Hotto with Tapelo Xoki and Zakhele Lepasa also restored by Pirates, whilst Bernard Parker made his first start for Galaxy.
Lepasa made his introduction count on six minutes when he ran into space after picking up a loose pass and fired off Galaxy defender Given Msimango and into the net.
The Buccaneers should’ve added a second from a corner-kick nine minutes later, but Xoki headed into the side-netting following a bursting run in at the back-post.
Pirates very nearly doubled their tally after the half-hour mark through a smart back-heel effort in the box by Lepasa, but goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi smothered.
Lepasa was at it again and on this occasion he made it count when he made a decoy run outside the area seven minutes later and dinked over the head of Buthelezi.
Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic put on a double change at halftime, as Keletso Makgalwa replaced Aphelele Teto before Xola Mlambo filled in for Bathusi Aubaas.
The Rockets pressured the Buccaneers in pursuit of a comeback early in the second period, with deliveries in and around the defensive area.
Pirates though managed to regain their earlier momentum inside the final stages and saw substitute Paseka Mako drill a loose ball from outside the box over target.
The Buccaneers maintained their forward spell of momentum late on and were able to pick up the win in the end, while Galaxy suffer their back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
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