Orlando Pirates beat Richards Bay 2-0 in the DStv Premiership to stay in contention for the Caf Champions League qualification.
The Buccaneers made one change from the team that beat Supersport United 1-0 with Terrence Dzvukamnja coming in for Kermit Erasmus. Richards Bay head coach Vasili Manousakis, who was in charge for the first time, also introduced Malcom Jacobs in goals.
On the 27th minute Vincent Pule’s in-swing free kick was well saved by Jacobs on the near post.
Four minutes later Dzvukamanja opened the scoring with a well-taken header form Kabelo Dlamini’s cross.
In the second half, the home side kept giving away ball possession too easy and they were almost punished when Thembinkosi Lorch rounded the goalkeeper but only to balloon his shot over the bar.
On the 58th minute Richards Bay had a chance to level matters when Yanela Mbuthuma found himself one-on-one with Sipho Chaine. But Mbuthuma failed to lob the ball over the advancing Pirates goalkeeper.
Midway through the second half, Mannapule Saleng’s cross deflected into Richards Bay defender, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, and almost went in for an own goal. But Jacobs was the to make another crucial save and kept his side in the match.
On the 65th minute, Mbuthuma was lucky not to receive a red-card when he made an over-the-top tackle on Nkosinathi Sibisi. Six minutes later, a miss communication in the Pirates defence saw Mbuthuma coming inches close from scoring his lob over Chaine went outside.
On the 90th minute, Saleng put matters beyond doubt when converted a cross to make it 2-0.