Orlando Pirates Reserves registered their third win in a row as they beat TS Galaxy 3-1 in their DStv Diski Challenge encounter at Isak Steyl Stadium on Saturday.
Heading into Match Day 17 just three points away from top spot, the Soweto Giants arrived in Vanderbijlpark looking to maintain their winning form after triumphing on two consecutive weekends.
The wet conditions on the day did not deter the visitors, who sought to dominate proceedings early on.
A corner in the fifth minute could have yielded the game’s opening goal as defender Siyabonga Ndlozi’s headed effort was kept out by the upright.
Forwards Relebohile Ratomo and Gomolemo Khoto then connected eight minutes later, with the latter only managing to sky his shot at goal.
Ndlozi kept probing, and was again denied by the post in the 15th minute when he tried his luck from range.
The Bucs Reserves were eventually rewarded for their persistence, with Khoto making no error in burying his shot this time around after being played in by Ratomo to send his side into the lead in the 24th minute.
Ratomo could have sent the visitors to the break with a two-goal cushion, but his shot from range sailed over the crossbar.
The second half could not have started better for the Buccaneers, who got their second from the boot of Ndlozi three minutes after the restart, as the defender blasted into the back of the net from outside the penalty area.
Galaxy tried to hit back almost immediately, and were almost aided by some lacklustre defending before keeper Siyabonga Dladla pulled off a brilliant save to preserve his side’s lead.
A foul on Ratomo in the 67th minute afforded the visitors a chance to stretch their advantage even further, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot.
Second-half substitute Mohau Nkota stepped up to the plate, and did not err as he made it 3-0.
Ndlozi had the opportunity to double his goal tally on the day with another shot from range, but sent the ball narrowly wide of the target.
The next decisive moment would come at the other end as Galaxy pounced on a defensive error and pulled one back with two-minutes left on the clock.
There was however no tense finish to proceedings as the Bucs Reserves saw the game out to register another vital three points.
Pirates Reserves XI: Dladla, Ndlozi (Mokone 79’), Mohlala, Kabini, Ngiba, Khumalo, Moremi, Molepo, Khoto (Nkota 57’), Ndaba, Ratomo.
