Orlando Pirates registered their first win of the DStv Premiership with a 4-2 victory over Royal AM at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday win.
The Buccaneers welcomed back Paseka Mako and Relebohile Mofokeng on the back of the narrow defeat to Stellenbosch FC in their season-opener on Saturday.
Mofokeng made a crucial impact around the opening 15 minutes when he won a penalty, which allowed Zakhele Lepasa to step up and send Mondli Mpoto the wrong way.
Royal AM were sliced open again during the midway stage and had a ball in-behind set Monnapule Saleng in range at the near post, but Mpoto tracked and parried.
Saleng got a second chance ahead of the half-hour mark and amended when he dropped a shoulder metres inside the area and unleashed a fantastic curler that beat Mpoto hands down.
Pirates bagged a third goal ten minutes before halftime where a route one from goalkeeper Sipho Chaine released Lepasa who worked his way around a challenge to stab in a gaping net.
The score-board saw Thwihli Thwahla coach John Maduka bring on four changes right ahead of the break in Sabelo Sithole, Sphiwe Cele, Mzwandile Dlamini and Motebang Sera. The decision paid dividends on the stroke of halftime as Cele dummied one challenge in the area after collecting a cutback and arrowed in the top corner.
Pirates did get a glorious chance to get a fourth goal soon after halftime when Mofokeng remained onside and brought down a pin-point pass only to nestle wide.
Either side began to have chances in a pretty opening spell, but neither were able to get the desired accuracy in the attacking third.
Thwihli Thwahla set-up a nervy final two minutes after Mxolisi Macuphu latched onto a poor back pass by Chaine and Nkosinathi Sibisi and tucked in.
Pirates did put matters to bed in added time when Bandile Shandu made a late run and finished off Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo's through ball and ultimately confirmed their first win of the season.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Monyane, Mako, Monare, Ndlondlo, Saleng, Mofokeng, Maswaganyi, Lepasa
Subs: Ofori, Mthethwa, Marou, Shandu, Maela, Makgopa, Makhaula, Makaringe, Hotto
Royal AM: Mpoto, Mogaila, Sikakane, Manganyi, Matlaba, Msomi, Kobedi, Masuku, Thikazi, Macuphu, Radebe
Subs: Ngcobo, Dlamini, Mabuza, Gamildien, Sera, Dlamini, Sithole, Maxwele, Cele
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