Orlando Pirates got back to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after defeating Maritzburg United 2-1 on Friday night.
Thembinkosi Lorch, who scored last Saturday, was rewarded with a start as Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Bandile Shandu and Innocent Maela also returned while Kwame Peprah started against his parent club.
Shandu looked to haunt his former club after just two minutes through a snap shot, but his effort went wide of the mark as the hosts looked to make their intensions clear early on.
Maritzburg produced their very first opening five minutes later where forward Amadou Soukouna ventured up-field from deep before he shot wide following a yard of space.
The Buccaneers closed-in again on the half-hour mark, with defender Thapelo Xoki heading wide from a corner kick by Monnapule Saleng.
Pirates continued to push for the opener and were rewarded on the stroke of halftime when Saleng found some space on the edge of the box and sent a curling strike into the bottom corner.
That was the end of Shandu's involvement as the defender was removed for another wing-back in Thabiso Monyane at the start of the of the second half.
The Team of Choice showed a lot of purpose after the break and went close to equalising when Rowan Human mis-judged the flight of Jooste's delivery and was not able to head in.
Pirates looked to restore their momentum over the midway mark of the second half as Ndlondlo thumped the upright with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.
The Buccaneers, however, doubled their cushion in the last 20 minutes when Terrence Dzvukamanja got on the end of Saleng's curling free-kick and placed a stern header past Leaner.
Changes off the bench by the host saw Makhehlene Makhaula given a second appearance when he replaced Ndlondlo five minutes later before Kermit Erasmus came on for Dzvukamanja.
Maritzburg pulled one back in the last five and set-up a nervy finish after Ishmael Njoti found the bottom-corner with a thunderous left-footed shot from outside the area.
There would be no late comeback for the men from Maritzburg as Pirates ran down the final minutes to see out the win and go third on the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Maela, Mako, Shandu, Timm, Ndlondlo, Hotto, Lorch, Saleng, Dzvukamanja.
Subs: Mpontshane, Mthethwa, Monyane, Makhuala, Dlamini, Pule, Motshwari, Erasmus, Marou
Maritzburg United: Leaner, Bhengu, De Goede, Palace, Cross, Human, Moloisane, Jooste, Njoti, Soukouna, Peprah
Subs: Ndlovu, Ndengane, Samu, Meza, Makume, Zuma, Kimvuidi, Tlolane, Conco.You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.