Orlando Pirates were in a rampant mood after thrashing Golden Arrows 7-1 in DStv Premiership action on Saturday evening.
Nkosinathi Sibisi’s suspension reopened the door for Thabiso Sesane in the sole change of the Sea Robbers from Wednesday’s draw with Moroka Swallows in the original Soweto derby.
Pirates were in the lead after ten minutes when Tshegofatso Mabasa showed the presence of mind to react to Sifiso Mlungwana’s spill and finished on the rebound.
The Buccaneers added another five minutes later after Relebohile Mofokeng beat the offside trap to go in-behind to round Mlungwana for the easiest of finishes.
Pirates continued to dish up a storm inside the opening quarter as Mofokeng cautioned a brace with a first-time shot off Patrick Maswanganyi’s surging cross, but Mlungwana repelled.
The latter had more activity beyond the half-hour mark when he charged out of his area to court Kabelo Dlamini’s first-time shot following a corner-kick.
Dlamini made up ten minutes to halftime where a square pass from Mofokeng released him to cut in at the near post and find the bottom-corner.
Abafana Besthende showed a substitution a few minutes later as Kagiso Malinga made way for Lungelo Nguse in a direct switch up.
The hosts had the chance to bag a fourth goal after being awarded a penalty late in the half, but Mabasa was unable to profit and saw his spot-kick saved by Mlungwana.
Five minutes after the break, Mabasa made up for the saved penalty when he showed sharp instincts to meet Thabiso Lebitso’s delivery and apply a close-range finish.
Defender Mthethwa put the icing on the cake in the last 15 minutes after rising highest to nod in Dlamini’s delivery and opened his account for the season too.
Abafana Besthende pulled one back after a few minutes when Nguse met a ball from Sifiso Cele and bundled past Sipho Chaine.
However, the Buccaneers added a sixth after Mabasa got on the end of yet another delightful cross from Lebitso and executed from point-blank range to complete his hat-trick.
Substitute Karim Kimvuidi compounded the woes of Arrows in added time when he finished from close-range after the defence went to sleep, as it finished 7-1 to the Buccaneers.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Sesane, Lebitso, Hotto, Timm, Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Dlamini, Mofokeng, Mabasa
Subs: Mpontshane, Mthethwa, Kimvuidi, Maela, Kapinga, Ndlondlo, Saleng, Lepasa, Monyane
Golden Arrows: Mlungwana, Cele , Zuke, Shitolo, Lukhele, Mthanti, Mutizwa, Sibiya, Dlamini, Zwane, Malinga
Subs: Kayode, Cross, Dube , Tlolane, Ncube, Nguse , Hlatshwayo, Moon, Van Rooi
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