Orlando Pirates bounced back to winning ways in the Absa Premiership when they thrashed Black Leopards 4-1 at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.

Leopards opened the scoring through Rodney Ramagalela but Pirates replied through a brace from Ndumiso Mabena as well as a goal each from Tlou Segolela and Oupa Manyisa.

Leopards got off to a brilliant start as they opened the scoring in the 4th minute when Mongezi Bobe rifled the ball into the roof of the net from outside the box.

However, Pirates replied four minutes later as Manyisa played a superb diagonal pass into the box for Segolela to nudge the ball past the onrushing Azwindini Maphaha.

The hosts then took the lead in the 19th minute when Mabena finished with a first time shot at the near post, connecting with a low cross from Mpho Makola.

Maphaha then pulled off two good saves to keep the scores level, tipping Khethokwakhe Masuku’s effort over the crossbar in the 22nd minute, before denying the same player six minutes later.

Ramagalela then used his strength to get past Ayanda Gcaba in the 31st minute before firing a low shot towards the target, but Mhlongo dived to his right to keep the ball out.

The Buccaneers then increased their lead at the other end two minutes later from a freekick routine which saw Manyisa releasing Makola on the left, who then crossed the ball for Mabena to finish from the centre of the penalty area.

Lidoda Duvha almost replied at the other end in the 38th minute but Bobe was denied by a good save from Mhlongo before Ramagalela blazed the rebound over the crossbar.

The second half was more of the same with the Buccaneers doing most of the attacking and Rooi Mahamutsa should have added a fourth in the 62nd minute, but he sent his header wide from close range after meeting a cross from Masuku.

However, the fourth goal di arrive in the 70th minute as Manyisa collects a neat backheel from Mabena before placing the ball past Maphaha from just inside the box to seal a comfortable win for the Buccaneers.

Orlando Pirates (3) (Segolela 8’, Mabena 19’ 33’, Manyisa 70’) Black Leopards (1) (Ramagalela 4’

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo, Jele (Nzunga 86’), Phungwayo, Gcaba, Mahamutsa, Ntshumayelo, Manyisa, Masuku, Makola (Moholo 73’), Segolela, Mabena Black Leopards: Maphaha, Dzaga, Nyirenda, Mabusela (Khoza 46’), Ntshingila, Mabunda, Sibiya (Obaje 46’), Bobe, Gumede (Amidu 75’), Monama, Ramagalela