Orlando Pirates increased their chances of challenging for the Absa Premiership title by beating Platinum Stars through goals by Justin Shonga and Thembinkosi Lorch at Royal Bafokeng Stadium yesterday.
Pirates, who moved to second on the log with 30 points a few hours before leaders Mamelodi Sundowns clashed with challengers Kaizer Chiefs, always had the upper hand. That it took 28 minutes for the Buccaneers to score - through Zambian international Shonga - was down to their wasteful ways in front of Dino Visser's goal.
Milutin Sredojevic's team should have scored as early as the 4th minute when Thembinkosi Lorch found himself one on one with Visser but his shot ricocheted off Visser's face.
Stars also missed their sole attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, Bongi Ntuli's shot brilliantly parried by Bucs keeper Jackson Mabokgwane when the Bucs defence was caught napping in the 3rd minute.
From then on it was Bucs all the way and had they been patient and precise with their final pass and shots at goal, would have finished Roger de Sa's team in the first half.
Shonga headed in his first goal of the season when Innocent Maela provided an inviting cross on the left. Stars' defending left much to be desired as Shonga managed to head in past Visser despite being sandwiched by Dikwena's centrebacks.
De Sa's team raised their tempo in attack in the second half and gave Bucs fans a few scares when they bombarded their goalmouth with dangerous shots, with striker Zama Rambuwane coming close on a few occasions to beat Mabokgwane.
Just as Stars were pushing for the equaliser Pirates found more space in the middle of the park and used breaks to attack. It was through one of those counterattacks that Amigo Memela brilliantly centred for Lorch to thunder in the killer punch in the 72nd minute.
Platinum Stars came to this match in sorry state - sitting at the bottom of the log with 15 points after 18 matches and on the back of three losses in their last three outings since the year started.
The Buccaneers on the other hand have not been too far off the leaders, their 1-1 home draw against Polokwane City last week being the only blot this year in what has been a vastly improved campaign for the Soweto giants under the Serbian coach Sredojevic.
Pirates first two matches this year saw them notching up 3-1 victories against Baroka FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, with Memela contributing a total of three goals in those two matches to be Bucs' joint top scorer with three strikes alongside Thamsanqa Gabuza.
The league results between Stars and Pirates have been close over the past few seasons, the previous three encounters ending in stalemates.
Bucs last defeated Stars in the 2014/15 season when Lehlohonolo Majoro and Lennox Bacela scored in a 2-0 away win.
