Orlando Pirates have registered a 3-0 victory in their CAF Confederation Cup tie away to Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides were competing for a spot in the group stage of the competition via a two-legged tie, the first instalment of which took place at the National Stadium in Gaborone.
The Buccaneers signaled their intent as early as the third minute, with Vincent Pule sending a curling shot, which looked set to shake the net, but only for goalkeeper, Ezekiel Morake to tap the ball over the bar.
The resulting corner brought the visitors even closer to opening the scoring when Bucs captain Happy Jele’s header was blocked by the keeper, who then made it a double-save as Terrence Dzvukamanja’s shot also kept out from point-blank range.
Pirates continued in their search for an opener in the opening exchanges, making several entries into the opposition box without much luck.
That all changed in the 32nd minute, when the breakthrough came through Thulani Hlatshwayo, who headed in with some venom from a corner kick taken by Deon Hotto.
With the hosts pursuing an equaliser, the first half ended with what would have been a couple of close calls for the Buccaneers, if not for some clever defence.
Paseka Mako was the first to read play well to make a vital clearance, while the goalscorer, Hlatshwayo was also on hand to thwart a threatening attack.
Despite their lead, the Bucs’ intensity did not let up in the second 45, as they continued to launch a succession of attacks.
It took a moment of magic for the visitors to find their second goal, and it was through some good work on the left from Mako, who laid the ball into Linda Mntambo’s path, and the midfielder struck a grass-cutting shot from range, which breached Morake’s defences.
The wait for the third was not as long, as second-half substitute, Jean-Marc Mundele got his first goal for the Buccaneers.
The striker twisted and turned inside the box, and fired in to make it 3-0.
That marked a fine afternoon for the Soweto Giants, who go into the return leg at Orlando Stadium with a healthy lead.
