Orlando Pirates jumped to fifth spot on the DStv Premiership table after defeating TS Galaxy 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Pirates stuck with the same line-up that did duty in the midweek win over Moroka Swallows, with goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi lining up against his former club for the first time.
It was a busy start for Buthelezi who was called to make a double save to thwart Lindokuhle Mbatha's first-time shot and Lehlohonolo Mojela on the follow-up.
Buthelezi was in the thick of things again in a tough opening ten minutes for them and pulled up a clever save to prevent Sphiwe Mahlangu profiting from an acute angle.
Pirates suffered a blow well inside the midway point of the opening spell after a bout of concussion saw Vincent Pule leave the field and Karim Kimvuidi summoned on.
The Buccaneers survived the early onslaught and hit the front when Deon Hotto's free-kick from the edge of the area beat the wall to leave Vasilije Kolak rooted to his area.
Youngster Relebohile Mofokeng should've added a second and opened his account for the season with a one-on-one following a through pass, but Kolak denied him late in the half.
Pirates didn't drop momentum early in the resumption but continued to go on the attack in search of extending the lead, as the Rockets remained hopeful to level things up.
Goal-scorer Hotto proved menacing down the left and cut inside to pick out Evidence Makgopa in the box, but the lanky forward failed to connect.
The Soweto giants still enjoyed the bulk of the chances as well as path to goal but weren't able to put Kolak to work let alone rattle the back of the net.
Pirates did have a golden chance in added time through substitute Zakhele Lepasa, but he slammed way over after attacking a loose ball in the box.
The missed chance didn't matter at all, as the Buccaneers managed to hold tight to see out the win and jumped into fifth spot on the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Buthelezi, Xoki, Ndah, Hotto, Timm, Ndlondlo, Maswanganyi, Pule, Makaringe, Mofokeng, Makgopa
Subs: Ofori, Sibisi, Makhaula, Baloni, Saleng, Kimvuidi, Dlamini, Otladisa, Lepasa
TS Galaxy: Kolak, M. Mahlangu, Sanoka, Letsoenyo, Mvelase, Khiba, Vidal, Mbatha, Mojela, S. Mahlangu
Subs: Ntwari, Seema, Nurkovic, Mongae, Mbunjana, Radebe, Rakwena, Mere, Semache
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