Orlando Pirates delivered a ruthless performance away to TS Galaxy, piling on the goals to walk off 6-0 victors in their Betway Premiership encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The match produced the Buccaneers’ biggest winning margin so far this season, and the biggest defeat in history for their opponents. The resounding win also brought them back to the summit of the table, where they sit with eight games left to play.
Greeted by a frenzied atmosphere at the World Cup venue, the deafening atmosphere was matched by an all-action start to proceedings, with the contest kicking off with some drama as the hosts found themselves a man short moments after the first whistle.
That decisive moment came about when Tshepang Moremi was brought down just outside the box by Oupa Motaung, who was duly given his marching orders for a reckless challenge. His transgression was immediately punished from the resultant free kick, curled into the top corner by Relebohile Mofokeng for his fifth league goal of the season.
Having struck early, the visitors placed more pressure on their hosts as they pushed them deep inside their half. Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Tapé kept the damage to a minimum as he pulled off a stunning save to deny Andre de Jong in the 18th minute, before keeping out Yanela Mbuthuma’s overhead kick from close range.
The Ivorian shot-stopper had the better of Mbuthuma once more on the half-hour mark when the striker was freed up inside the box by Thalente Mbatha. The midfielder had an attempt of his own parried just seconds later as the second goal remained elusive.
That only lasted until the 41st minute when Moremi got his name on the scoresheet with a long range effort into the bottom corner which had too much power for the outstretched Tapé.