Pirates off to fast start on opening day of PSL season

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates opened their Absa Premiership season with a deserved 3-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.

Star player Thembinkosi Lorch was a notable absentee for Bucs through an injury, but Thabiso Monyane made his debut in defence alongside the experienced Alfred Ndengane.

Pirates threatened to take an early lead, but Sipho Chaine parried Musa Nyatama's effort away.

The wait was over in the sixth minute after Augustine Mulenga sprung the offside trap to beat Chaine in a one-on-one situation following a superb pass by Nyatama.

Celtic struggled to adapt to the Sea Robbers' aggressive pressing with Ndumiso Mabena and his team unable to find a breakthrough, despite looking lively on the counter.

Eventually after pressure, Celtic leveled five minutes before half-time when Mzwanele Mahashe controlled a ball in the area to loop a header over goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.

Bucs hit the front after 56 minutes when Innocent Maela headed home Mulenga's dead-ball from an unmarked position in the area.

Two minutes later, former Celtic playmaker Kabelo Dlamini made his debut for the Soweto giants, with Luvuyo Memela making way.

Gabadinho Mhango made Siwelele pay as he found a poor back-pass before finishing home beyond Chaine.

Sandilands made a great save at the death as he saved from Menzi Masuku from point-blank range.