Orlando Pirates advanced to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup after defeating 4-0 on Saturday evening.
Melusi Buthelezi, who recently encountered an horrific personal ordeal, started his first clash for Pirates this year as Nkosinathi Sibisi and captain Innocent Maela made a return too.
The Buccaneers were patient in their build-up and were rewarded albeit fortuitously when Morena Monareng found his own net after attempting a clearance off Relebohile Mofokeng.
In-form Monnapule Saleng looked to double the lead with a few bursting runs out wide, but he was let done timeously by the final delivery and indecisiveness.
Lions still battled to match the Buccaneers resolve following the closing exchanges of the half, as the host kept applying pace in forward areas and enjoyed box penetrations.
Di Tau did come close to the equaliser late in the first spell when Raymond Daniels cut in from the right to fire in a shot from a tight angle, but Buthelezi got down and collected.
A worrying sign for the Buccaneers when Makhehlene Makhaula fell down on the ground and was replaced after being stretchered as Thalente Mbatha came on.
The visitors did not end the match with a full complement of players ten minutes in the second half as S’Bongakonke Gamede got his marching orders for a coming-together in a telling area.
The Buccaneers took advantage of the situation and doubled the lead when Tshegofatso Mabasa capitalised on a delivery from Mabasa and finished smartly.
Pirates began to run riot in the last 20 minutes as Mabasa switched roles where he placed a telling ball in the path of Saleng to go in and find the net.
Di Tau very nearly got a lifeline through a snap shot from a clever angle by Michael Khanyi, but he went wide of the mark.
Pirates wrapped up the clash in added time as Mabasa collected a brace when he combined with Deon Hotto’s cutback to fire in the bottom-corner, and saw out the clash.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Buthelezi, Xoki, Sibisi, Maela, Monyane, Makhuala, Timm, Saleng, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Mabasa
Subs: Ofori, Thalente, Mthethwa, Marou, Kimvuidi, Kapinga, Dlamini, Ndlondlo, Hotto
Hungry Lions: Baadjies, Monaheng, Mogotlane, Peters, Gamede, Masisi, Khotso, Dondolo, Pitso, Daniels, Modise
Subs: Mothibedi, Vaaltyn, Ndlovu, Makhubela, Tau, Van Neel, Khanyi, Maritshe, Mahapa
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