Victory over Baroka sees Bucs in leading position

Orlando Pirates have moved to the top of the Absa Premiership log after they claimed a 2-1 away win over Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers – thanks to first-half goals from Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch – are placed first with 14 points, while Bakgaga remain rooted in the bottom half of the log with five points from their seven outings.

Pirates went close in the 24 minute when they opened up space for Thembinkosi Lorch to shoot from the edge of the box – his grass-cutter shaved the outside of the right-hand post.

It seemed a matter of “when” and not “if” Pirates would claim the lead, and the goal duly arrived in the 32nd minute. Baroka gave Pule far too much space and time to set his sights from long range, and the Bucs attacker whipped a left-footed shot into the back of the net to put his side in front.

On 38 minutes the Soweto giants made it 2-0, with Baroka’s defence making a mess of dealing with a relatively simple long pass from Pule. Lorch was allowed to run onto a loose ball in the box and steer it into an empty net from close range.

The hosts made a double change in the second half by sending on both Onkabetse Makgantai and Goodman Mosele.

Bakgaga’s attack certainly looked more lively after their changes but they weren’t really able to test Bucs goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane. However, in the 79th minute the visitors' defence went to sleep at a corner kick and allowed substitute Makgantai to score from close range and set up a tense finish.