Orlando Pirates recorded a 2-0 victory over Maritzburg United in an entertaining DStv Premiership clash at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.
SCORECARD | Orlando Pirates v Maritzburg United
Vincent Pule came off the bench at half-time to bag a brace and scored his first goal with a strong finish on 59 minutes before being gifted a second by Maritzburg goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt with 78 minutes on the clock.
The result sees Pirates move up to fourth on the league standings with 38 points from 22 games and leaves Maritzburg down in 13th with 20 points from 21 games, three clear of the relegation places.
Pirates may well have added to the score-line, but Engelhardt made several excellent late saves, having seen little action throughout the tie.
The Team of Choice were quickest out of the blocks with Thabiso Kutumela testing Wayne Sandilands early on as Daylon Claasen fired wide of the Bucs goal after another pacy attack from the visitors.
Kabelo Dlamini was next to be off target with his effort, while the outstretched leg of Engelhardt denied Deon Hotto after being played in on goal by an excellent long pass from Bucs centre-back Thabiso Sesane, who was making his full debut for the Buccaneers.
Hotto fired well over at the start of the second half before Tshegofatso Mabasa could not steer his shot on target from a good Hotto cross from the left-hand side.
Pule, though, made no mistake with a left-footed volley from a superb Fortune Makaringe delivery from the right to finally break the deadlock.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane really should have netted for Maritzburg on 71 minutes but side-footed over from two yards out as the ball dropped to him from a Clayton Daniels' knockdown from Ryan Rae's long throw-in.
Engelhardt then wholly misjudged the ball's flight as he came out of goal to head clear, leaving Pule to pick up the loose ball and slot home.
The away keeper then went some way to redeem himself after his earlier error to deny Onassis Mntambo, Makaringe and Mabasa in quick succession following some relentless Pirates attacking as the game drew to a close.