Cape Town – Orlando Pirates kept the heat on Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday night, beating Stellenbosch FC 2-0 away at a sold-out Athlone Stadium to close the gap at the top to just two points with three games remaining.
Goals from Evidence Makgopa and Patrick Maswanganyi did the damage for the Buccaneers, who dominated large portions of the match and deserved their victory.
Pirates were on the front foot from the start. Oswin Appollis came close in the 10th minute but his shot went narrowly wide, and two minutes later Maswanganyi also went wide as the visitors piled pressure on the Stellies defence. The home side had little to offer going forward as Pirates continued to push for the opener. 
The closest thing to a goal before the break came in the 26th minute when Godswill Enyinnaya forced a save from his own goalkeeper Sage Stephens, who prevented an own goal with a sharp stop.
The deadlock was broken three minutes before half-time when Makgopa headed home a well-delivered free kick from Maswanganyi. Maswanganyi then doubled the lead in referee’s optional time when his shot-cum-cross evaded both Makgopa and Stephens and crept into an empty net, sending Pirates into the break in complete control.
Stellies coach Gavin Hunt introduced Ashley Cupido and young Vuyolwethu Andrieas at the start of the second half in an attempt to change the complexion of the game. The substitutions did bring some spark to the Stellies attack, with the home side dominating possession in the early stages of the second half and creating some chances, but the Pirates defence held firm.
Genino Palace tried his luck from range in the 55th minute but failed to trouble goalkeeper Sipho Chaine. Palace was unlucky not to pull one back in the 77th minute when his shot struck the upright with Chaine well beaten. Mofokeng almost added a third for Pirates in the 83rd minute but his header from an Appollis cross went wide.
The two first-half goals proved enough for Pirates to claim all three points.
Sundowns can restore their five-point lead if they beat Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening. Pirates travel to Magesi FC on Saturday, while Stellies face Durban City away on Friday.
