Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates recorded their 20th Betway Premiership win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Magesi FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday night, closing to within three points of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand.
The result was a statement of intent from the Buccaneers, who went into the match knowing that Sundowns had earlier that day won a chaotic 7-4 encounter, meaning Pirates had ground to make up. They delivered, albeit after a slow start to a stop-start opening period.
Patrick Maswanganyi was the man who broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, producing a moment of individual brilliance. He started the move in his own half, carried the ball forward, and danced past defenders inside the Magesi penalty area before finishing to make it 1-0. 
The pressure on the hosts did not let up. Pirates doubled their lead through Kamogelo Sebelebele, who reacted sharply to a blocked Maswanganyi shot and fired past goalkeeper Mbali Tshabalala to make it 2-0. Tshabalala had earlier denied Oswin Appollis from a set piece, while Maswanganyi also went narrowly off target with an effort from distance.
Pirates went into halftime firmly in control, leading 2-0 and dictating the tempo of the match.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Striker Evidence Makgopa was denied from close range three minutes after the restart when he attempted to flick a Maswanganyi cross towards goal. Relebohile Mofokeng then landed the ball on the roof of the net after attempting to chip Tshabalala, who had wandered off his line.
The third goal eventually arrived in the 59th minute through the penalty spot. A clumsy shove on Sebelebele inside the box was punished by the referee, and Appollis stepped up to send Tshabalala the wrong way and complete the scoring.
At the other end, goalkeeper Sipho Chaine had a relatively quiet evening but was called into action late on, producing an excellent low save to keep out a long-range effort. It was his record-breaking 19th clean sheet of the season.
Pirates, who also surpassed their victory tally from the previous campaign with this result, now sit on 65 points with two games remaining. Sundowns have only one game left, keeping the title race firmly in the balance.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Sebelebele, Hotto, Makhaula (Dansin 62′), Mbatha (Mariko 85′), Maswanganyi (De Jong 82′), Appollis, Mofokeng (Msendami 82′), Makgopa (Mbuthuma 62′).
