Orlando Pirates rallied from behind to secure over Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Betway Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs welcomed back attacking duo Pule Mmodi and Gaston Sirino from suspension, while the Buccaneers recalled Paseka Mako, Tapelo Xoki and Makhehlene Makhaula, with Patrick Maswanganyi not included in the match day squad.
The embattled Amakhosi hit the ground running inside three minutes when Glodly Lilepo sneaked in the box and drilled into the far corner following Dillon Solomons’ cutback.
Pirates weren’t rattled and levelled matters midway through the first half as Evidence Makgopa beat the offside trap to guide in a through pass from Mohau Nkota.
The Amakhosi nearly conceded again on the half-hour mark with a glancing header from Xoki following a free-kick from Deon Hotto, but Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma denied him expertly.
Makgopa fancied a first half brace a little later when he brought a long ball under control and got goal-side, but he slammed wide of the near corner, while Sipho Chaine was called upon to keep out a potential own goal from Xoki at the other end.
The Buccaneers withdrew Mako at the start of the second half and summoned Kabelo Dlamini on in his place.
Dlamini almost enjoyed a dream entry from the bench when he got high-up to the edge of the box to meet a layoff from Mofokeng, but he went well over the top.
Chiefs struggled to contain the pressure from the Buccaneers and trailed in the 68th minute when Hotto burst into the box before teeing up Mofokeng to slot in the far corner.
Hotto remained influential a little later and pulled to the left of the area to cut inside to see Solomons nearly score an own-goal from his cross.
It got worse for the Amakhosi, who were reduced to ten men in added time when Bradley Cross was sent packing for bringing down Nkota.
Pirates still had the fair share of chances as Dlamini sent a curling effort inches wide of the upright but they had done enough to secure maximum points.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Solomons, Kwinika, Dove, Cross, Maart, Ngcobo, Mmodi, Shabalala, Lilepo, Sirino
Subs: Petersen, Mashiane, Miguel, Castillo, Matlou, Cele, Mthethwa, Du Preez, Morris
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Shandu, Xoki, Mbokazi, Mako, Makhaula, Mbatha, Hotto, Mofokeng, Nkota, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Maela, Ndlozi, Madiba, Salepe, Kimvuidi, Dlamini, Radiopane, Mabasa
