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Phokeng - Orlando Pirates were full value for their three points as they beat Platinum Stars 2-0 in Saturday's Absa Premiership encounter at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng.
Pirates were largely on top but were grateful to Jackson Mabokgwane who made a good save inside the first 10 minutes. However, Bucs' dominance counted as Justin Shonga opened the scoring before Thembinkosi Lorch netted a second goal after the break.
It was a quiet start to the match with both sides feeling each other out although Stars nearly hit the front in the early exchanges. Striker Bonginkosi Ntuli was alert in the area and forced goalkeeper Mabokgwane into a fine point-blank save inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Sea Robbers then began to dominate large aspects of the play and were nearly rewarded after good interplay between Luvuyo Memela and forward Shonga. The pair set up Lorch with the goal at his mercy, however, he sent a strike into the head of Dino Visser in goal who deflected the ball wide somewhat fortuitously.
Nonetheless, the first goal arrived just on the half-an-hour mark as Shonga opened his account for the outfit from Mayfair. From Innocent Maela's pinpoint cross, the forward planted an excellent header beyond Visser in the 28th minute.
Just before the break, Musa Nyatama was inches away from extending Bucs' lead, but his strike was deflected into the side-netting. After the interval, Riyaad Norodien came close to a second as he forced Visser into a punch from a corner.
Shonga's curling strike then hit the post as Dikwena struggled to cope with wave after wave of attacks. Stars threatened not long after as Mabokgwane forced Zama Rambuwane’s free-kick away from danger.
Lorch was showing plenty of enterprise in attack and he added a second in the 73rd minute from Amigo Memela's delivery. The player who created the goal then fired just wide in the closing stages as Pirates recorded a comfortable victory.
