The Buccaneers suffered a 2-1 loss to Aces at the Mbombela Stadium, courtesy of goals from Collins Mbesuma and Mabhuti Khenyeza.
Pirates found the back of the net through Lehlohonolo Majoro from the penalty spot.
“Marcelo” believed his team-mates managed to "up their game" after the interval, but were doomed after Oupa Manyisa handled the ball inside his own area which saw Aces awarded a penalty to seal the game in the closing stages.
“We knew it was not going to be easy playing against Aces,” said Phungwayo.
“It’s always tough playing against them especially away from home.
“I think we didn’t start the first half very well but we managed to pull up our socks in the second half.
“But we also conceded a penalty which won their game but we have tried our best as a team.”
A loss for the Soweto giants dropped them down to third place on the log, now trailing second placed, Aces, by a single point.
Pirates' next game will be at home against the high flying Ajax Cape Town in the Telkom Knock-Out this coming weekend.