Johannesburg – South African Premiership leaders Orlando Pirates moved three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns thanks to a 4-0 away win over bottom club Kruger United on Tuesday.
Sundowns, league winners for eight consecutive campaigns before surrendering the title to Pirates last season, host Milford on Wednesday and need a five-goal victory to top the table.
Zambian Gamphani Lungu converted a fourth-minute penalty in north eastern city Mbombela to give the Soweto Buccaneers a lead they retained until half-time.
The defending champions were fortunate to be ahead at the break as promoted Kruger had a header cleared off the line, then a shot struck the woodwork.
Boitumelo Radiopane doubled Pirates’ lead on 54 minutes and substitute Yanela Mbuthuma scored twice in the closing stages as Kruger left defensive gaps.
“We did not play the way we wanted to, but we got the result we wanted,” said Pirates coach and former Morocco defender Abdeslam Ouaddou.
“Kruger were very aggressive and we initially struggled to deal with that. We improved in the second half.”
Durban City drew 0-0 at home against Stellenbosch in a mid-table clash.
This weekend, Pirates visit La Cure Waves of Mauritius in the CAF Champions League and Durban host Rukinzo of Burundi in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
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Source: AFP
