Marauding Orlando Pirates go top after Relebohile Mofokeng's brace sinks AmaZulu

Orlando Pirates surged to the top of the Betway Premiership with a hard-fought 2-0 victory, ending AmaZulu's perfect start to the year in front of a decent crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Tuesday night.

Both teams entered the fixture buoyed by recent victories and cancelled each other out in the early stages. Arthur Zwane's Usuthu remained solid in a low block, looking to exploit space behind the defence using the pace of Mlondi Mbanjwa, but Lebone Seema coped comfortably with the threat.

The Buccaneers eventually began to win the territorial battle, finding space down the right channel where Deano van Rooyen was a constant menace. That wing proved to be the source of the opening goal in the 15th minute; a delightful Tshepang Moremi in-swinger found the head of Relebohile Mofokeng, who nodded his team into the lead.

Usuthu keeper Darren Johnson did well to smother a Deon Hotto shot on the left after Oswin Apollis had picked him out with a brilliant through-ball. Apollis also popped up on the right to flash in a wicked cross that was only just cleared.

The Bafana ace proved a handful for the AmaZulu defence with his movement, while Mbanjwa remained the primary outlet whenever Usuthu managed a counter-attack.

A lightning-quick counter by Pirates off an early Usuthu corner set the tone for the second half, with the home side unable to lay a glove on coach Abdeslam Ouaddou's marauding visitors.

Keegan Allen did well to break up a dangerous Bucs attack, while Mofokeng skied a cut-back seconds later as Pirates attacked in waves. Apollis could have wrapped up all three points but sent a shot narrowly wide.

Athini Makokolo's introduction breathed some late life into the AmaZulu attack and it was only the brilliance of Sipho Chaine that denied the home team a shock equaliser off a corner with barely five minutes left on the clock. The last say belonged to Mofokeng, whose shot deflected in off keeper Johnson in the 94th minute.

The result took Pirates three points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs at the top of the table with 35 points. The defeat was the first of the year for AmaZulu, and only their third in the last nine matches.