Monnapule Saleng netted a hat-trick for Orlando Pirates, who defeated Swallows FC 4-1 in the original Soweto Derby on Friday night.
Pirates freshened up their line-up from the loss to Kaizer Chiefs last Saturday and brought in Sandile Mthethwa, Makhehlene Makhaula, Kabelo Dlamini and Deon Hotto.
The changes were decisive six minutes in, as a one-touch passing move from deep circulated to the left where Dlamini crossed for Monnapule Saleng to find the net with a back-heel finish.
Saleng should've grabbed a brace with the goal at his mercy a few minutes later following a disappointing clearance by the host, but the winger steered his volley wide of the target.
After a tough opening, Swallows began to push forward and looked to have gone level from Tawanda Macheke's close-range finish following a goal-mouth scramble but it was disallowed for offside.
Pirates extended their lead a minute after the break when Terrence Dzvukamanja latched onto a cutback from the left and stabbed in from point-blank range via a deflection off Shwabule.
It got worse for the host around the 60th minute as a long diagonal pass fell to Dlamini, who cutback the ball back for an un-marked Saleng to tuck in and complete his brace.
The tempo from the Buccaneers dropped inside the last 15 minutes and this allowed the Dube Birds to pull one back when Shwabule tapped into the bottom-corner from a pass outside the area.
Pirates regained momentum in added time when Saleng completed his hat-trick after getting on the end of Kermit Erasmus' through-pass and calmly slotting into the back of the net.
The victory revived the Buccaneers' quest to finish in the top-two at the end of the season, while the loss dampened Swallows' relegation fight.
Confirmed line-ups:
Swallows FC: Mbanjwa, Zulu, Sasman, Sibiya, Mngonyama, Mthethwa, Lukhubeni, Mtshali, T. Macheke, Malinga, Rusike
Subs: Akpeyi, Matsheke, Damons, Wambi, Patjie, Ngwenya, Musonda, Shwabula
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Mthethwa, Mako, Makhaula, Timm, Hotto, Saleng, Dlamini, Lorch, Dzvukamanja
Subs: Mpontshane, Monyane, Ngiba, Motshwari, Ndlondlo, Pule, Makgopa, Erasmus, Marou
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