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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over erratic Baroka at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday to go on top of the Premiership table for the first time this season.
The Sea Robbers enjoyed a dominant first-half scoring two goals through Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch.
Baroka were able to come back strongly in the second-half and pulled one back through substitute Onkabetse Makgantai.
Pirates showed their intentions of winning the match in the early stages and could have taken the lead within the first five minutes, but Vincent Pule's effort went wide.
Augustine Mulenga also had a good chance to put the Sea Robbers ahead having intercepted a poor goal kick by Baroka goalkeeper, Elvis Chipezeze, but the Zimbabwean made up for his mistakes with a good save.
Thembinkosi Lorch was also handed a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 26th minute, but his low strike failed to find the target as Baroka went off the hook again.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 32nd minute as Pule, who was outstanding on the day, unleashed a powerful left-footed strike to put the Buccaneers ahead.
Pirates doubled the lead in the 38th as Lorch capitalised on poor defending by Baroka. The winger pounced on a long ball played by Pule to make it 2-0 for Milutin Sredojevic's side.
The match headed to the half-time break with Pirates enjoying a healthy 2-0 lead.
However, Bakgaga looked a better side in the second-half and were able to give Pirates a tough time. They were able to create a lot of goal scoring chances to get back into the game.
The first headed on the way of Mduduzi Mdantsane in the 48th minute, but he squandered a golden opportunity to get his side back into the game.
The home side played with a lot of confidence in the second-half, but were let down by poor finishing in front of goals.
They finally managed to get their way past Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpotshane in the 73rd as substitute Onkabetse Makgantai pulled one back for Baroka.
The Botswana international punished the Sea Robbers from inside the penalty box after after they failed to clear their lines.
Baroka continued to give Pirates a tough time in search of the equalising goal, but it proved too little and too late as Pirates walked away with the three points to return to winning ways.
