Chiefs and Pirates on cruise mode
Soweto giants started their international campaigns in top form as Kaizer Chiefs beat Zimamoto 4-0, while Orlando thrashed Light Stars FC 5-1.
Khama Billiat scored a hattrick as Chiefs defeated Zanzibar amateurs in their African Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.
Chiefs made heavy weather of the game in the first half especially as they led only 1-0 at the break against a hopelessly outgunned opponent.
Chiefs were ahead inside seven minutes following a superb 25-yard free-kick from Billiat that arrowed into the bottom cornert.
Chiefs were denied a second in controversial circumstances when Castro slipped the ball past Zimamoto goalkeeper Anissor Salim. It appeared to cross the line before being cleared and from the follow-up Billiat turned the ball home in any event. But the referee disallowed the goal claiming a foul on the keeper.
Billiat drilled his shot low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box as the ball sped up off the wet surface, though keeper Salim reacted very late to the danger.
It was 3-0 on 68 minutes and this time there was nothing the keeper could do about it. Bernard Parker delivered a delightful defence-splitting ball and Mahlasela provided the expert finish.
Zimamoto were by now running out of stamina for the fight and referee Shifeleni Nehemia from Namibia had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Hadebe was hauled down in the box and Billiat converted the penalty for his ninth goal of the season.
● Orlando Pirates' return to the Caf Champions League after a five-year absence was ultimately convincing enough as they clinically trounced of Light Stars FC of the Seychelles 5-1 at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
Mario Ravo had his team from the tiny Indian Ocean island nation in the lead in the first leg of the preliminaryround tie with a 17th-minute opening strike.
First-half replies from Thabo Qalinge in the 25th, Augustine Mulenga in the 38th, and Mpho Makola with a sumptuous freekick in the 41st teed up what could have been a second-half goal-fest to the Soweto giants.
In the end two goals were added, though a resilient Stars made Bucs' home support wait for late, injury-time strikes by substitute Justin Shonga (93rd) and Linda Mntambo (95th) to see their team eventually run out comfortable winners.
Pirates, the 2013 Champions League losing finalists, had to come from a strike down to go into the change rooms with a two-goal cushion from the first half.
● In the only Absa Premiership match played on Wednesday night Bloemfontein Celtic were held to a goalless draw by SuperSport United at Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The result sees Phunya Sele Sele missing out on the chance to go to the top of the log – instead they are up to second place on 21 points from 11 matches, two points behind leaders Orlando Pirates but with two games in hand.
Pirates had to come from a strike down to two-goal cushion at half time