Orlando Pirates Reserves returned to winning ways with a 4-0 routing of Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows in their DStv Diski Challenge fixture played at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.
It was a welcome return to form for the young Buccaneers, who turned in a dominant performance to register their first win since early March.
In their second away fixture in as many weeks, the visitors sought to overturn their fortunes and were quick off the blocks, creating the game’s first chance at goal just seconds after the first whistle. The opportunity fell to forward Simphiwe Masilela, whose header drew a save from the keeper after a swift move upfield.
The Bucs attacker, along with Mohau Nkota and Gosiame Ngobeni, provided further chances at goal as the visitors piled pressure on the home side in the opening 10 minutes.
Swallows had opportunities of their own but met a determined defensive effort led by centre-back Mbekezile Mbokazi and debutant Khumoetsile Rathokolo who started between the sticks.
It took until the half-hour mark for Pirates to find the opener, which came through Mbokazi who had remained in an advanced position following a corner kick and made no mistake in slotting home to make it 1-0.
The wait for the second goal only lasted a mere seven minutes as Cemran Dansin sparked a move to release Nkota out wide, with the winger beating his man before locating Ngobeni who calmly doubled the lead.
Despite a comfortable advantage, the Buccaneers were unrelenting as two quickly became three in the space of seconds when Nkota combined with Mazibuko, who added his name to the scorecard five minutes before the break.
Masilela could have provided the fourth on the stroke of halftime, but his header fell just wide when he connected with an inviting cross from deep while Ngobeni did shoot on target with his effort moments later, only to be denied by the keeper.
Looking to reduce the deficit, Swallows enjoyed a positive start to the second period forcing Rathokolo into a couple of saves.
The Buccaneers had some chances of their own, with Ngobeni and replacement winger Aphelele Nzimande each going within inches of providing the fourth.
The goal did not elude the Buccaneers for long as another late replacement in Tshepo Mhlambi joined the action when he located Nzimande, who made amends for his earlier miss by slotting home to make it 4-0 in the 79th minute.
It remained one-way traffic in the dying stages, with the visitors looking to pile on further misery on the hosts, who managed to avoid conceding a fifth goal.
The final whistle sounded shortly as the Bucs Reserves claimed a crucial three points to move from fourth place to third in the standings.
Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Magugwana, Mbokazi, Mokone, Mohlala, Molepo, Dansin (Mhlambi 74’), Mazibuko (Masemola 74’), Nkota (Nzimande 74’), Ngobeni, Masilela (Selepe 65’).
