Orlando Pirates secured the CAF Champions League spot for next season after thumping AmaZulu 4-0 in the DStv Premiership season on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Thabiso Monyane, Monnapule Saleng, Kabelo Dlamini and the youngster Relebohile Ratomo rattled the back of the net to secure the maximum points for the Soweto giants on the road.
Monnapule Saleng could have put Pirates in front within the first minute of the game when he wasted a glorious one-on-one chance against Jody February. However, his side continued to dominate the early possession.
ORLANDO PIRATES’ THABISO MONYANE OPENED THE SCORING
Their electric start paid off as Thabiso Monyane burst into the box and beat February in the near post to open the scoring. Meanwhile, Usuthu didn’t look promising at all as they struggled to progress up the field.
Jose Riveiro’s side was more about forcing the home side to stay in their own half.
The home side later started to grow into the game and made some forward movements, howbeit they weren’t dangerous towards Sipho Chaine’s posts.
In the 27th minute, the flying-high Terrence Dzvukamanja came close to doubling the lead for the visitors. However, he skewed his effort well wide.
RATOMO’S FIRST SENIOR TEAM GOAL
Ten minutes before the break, Relebohile Ratomo added the second goal for Ezimnyama Ngenkani tapping from Saleng’s cut-back. Four minutes after, Saleng with a quick raid, broke away and added his name on the scoresheet to make it three for the away side.
The match reached the interval with Pirates leading 3-0.
In the second half, Riveiro’s men picked up where they left off as the ball was being played exclusively in AmaZulu’s half.
At the hour mark, Usuthu nearly pulled one back when Bongi Ntuli failed to put the ball past Chaine in close range. After a minute, Monyane came close to bagging a brace when his vicious effort hit the post.
In the 71st minute, February was called into action to repel Saleng’s close-range effort as he sought to his brace on the day. With ten minutes to go on the clock, Kabelo Dlamini tapped the empty net when he was set up by Dzvukamanja in the box.
The Buccaneers went on to take three points and also secured a spot in the CAF Champions League next season.
SEKHUKHUNE OVERPOWER SUPERSPORT
Meanwhile, Sekhukhune beat SuperSport United 1-0 with Edwin Gymah’s first-half goal. Brandon Truter’s men finished seventh on the log standings while SuperSport are third.
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