Bucs put the pressure on Chiefs

The three points were secured thanks to a superb goal from Sifiso Myeni on the stroke of half-time.

Pirates started the game brightly and could have opened the scoring on 13 minutes through a well-worked set piece routine that handed captain Lucky Lekgwathi a gilt-edged scoring chance, but he directed his effort wide of the mark.

Two minutes later Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene made the first of two excellent saves in the first half, palming away a long range effort from Oupa Manyisa. The second arrived on 29 minutes when a snap shot from Takesure Chinyama looked destined for the back of the net until the Zambian intervened.

Ea Lla Koto very nearly broke the deadlock just past the half hour mark when striker Moeketsi Mvula showed good composure in the box to go round Senzo Meyiwa and tee up Luyolo Nomandela with a well-weighted cross, but the winger’s header rebounded off the upright.

Bucs took the lead on the stroke of the interval, two minutes into added time. Sifiso Myeni showed a touch of class to lift the ball over a challenge from Sadate Ouro-Akoriko before crashing a volley into the back of the net – a truly world-class goal from the Pirates winger.

The hosts looked the likelier scorers in the second half and created a great chance to double the lead on 64 minutes when Myeni provided a fine cross for Chinyama, but the Zimbabwean striker headed over the top from close range.

Though Pirates didn’t really suffer any scares as far as Stars getting an equaliser was concerned, they would have been concerned to see Oupa Manyisa adding to their mounting injury-list as he was stretchered off with just under 10 minutes to play.

Bucs almost made it 2-0 in injury time when Thabo Matlaba picked out Daine Klate on a counter attack, but the no.7 fired his left-footed shot just wide of Mweene’s left-hand post.