Eventually Orlando Pirates got back to winning ways thanks to a brace from Katlego Mashego in their Absa Premiership game against Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday afternoon.

Mashego was rightly named as Man of the Match after playing a large part in his side’s 3-1 win over the Phunya Sele Sele in an exciting league game at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

It did not start that way at all and was, in fact, a little scrappy by both sides in the opening 20 minutes of the match. Neither team really took the game by the scruff of the neck until the Buccaneers took the lead in the 34th minute.

The only notable piece of action prior to that came courtesy of Katlego Mashego and a well-placed free-kick in the 11th minute. Mashego did brilliantly curling his 25 yard effort around the defensive wall and towards the top right corner of the net. Patrick Tignyemb, however, was on hand and showed his worth as a goalie diving full stretch to his right to deny the striker.

That was not the case in the 34th minute when Mashego came out on top in a one-on-one situation with the Celtic goalkeeper.

Thulasizwe Mbuyane was phenomenal winning the ball in midfield and then noticing some space behind the Phunya Sele Sele defence; consequently he produced a great through ball for Mashego to run onto. With only the keeper to beat Mashego was clinical in his finishing slipping the ball past Tignyemb and put his side in front, 1-0.

Thereafter, the Buccaneers took complete control of the game and began mounting the pressure on the Celtic goal. Under a barrage of attack, however, the Phunya Sele Sele defence held firm and managed to get into the change room for half time only a goal down.

The second half saw Celtic come out with fire in their bellies, looking determined to get back on level terms and they came close in the 50th minute. A long throw-in into the Pirates box resulted in a goal mouth scramble: Moses Spandeel latched onto the loose ball with a quick-fire shot goalwards, but Moneeb Josephs was at his best with a fine save tipping the effort over the crossbar.

Then in the 62nd minute Lucas Twhala appeared to have snuffed out the Phunya Sele Sele fire with the Buccaneers second goal. Thwala rose above the Celtic defence to powerful head a corner-kick home, giving the keeper no chance, 2-0.

The Phunya Sele Sele, still, were not prepared to take defeat lying down and pulled a goal back through Excellent Walaza in the 72nd minute. Walaza rounded off a great run and pass from Cecil Oerson with a clinical finish from only a couple of yards out, 2-1.

The joy of the Celtic players, however, was short lived as Mashego extended his side’s lead back to two with his second goal of the game. In a move similar to the one that saw the Phunya Sele Sele score two minutes earlier, Mongala was the man to drive into the 18 yard box and provide an inch perfect pass for Mashego to slot home, 3-1.

That was how the game ended and Pirates are back to winning ways after going seven league games without a win.

Pirates: Josephs, Lekgwathi, Thwala, Mahamutsa, Jele, Gumbi, Mongala (Mothibantwa 81’), Kamwendo, Masina, Mbuyane, Mashego (Mabena 90’)

Celtic: Tignyemb, Tsotetsi (Spandeel 42’), Khaile, Sambu, Motlhaping, Mokhethi (Smith 70’), Oerson, Nthethe, Segolela (Mayambela 78’), Olomu, Walaza