A seven-minute brace from Khethukuthula Zwane guided the University of Pretoria to a 3-0 win over Polokwane City in an Absa Premiership encounter at Tuks Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Zwane scored a stunning double in seven first-half minutes before Thabo Mnyamane wrapped up the result with five minutes of regulation time remaining.

AmaTuks ended the game with 10-men following the expulsion of club captain Tebogo Monyai in the 88th minute.

Eager to bounce back from their opening weekend defeat to Golden Arrows, AmaTuks applied the early pressure, but they were unable to capitalise on a succession of corner-kicks.

The hosts lost the two home games in which they hosted City leading up to this weekend's clash and were on the lookout for a turnaround in fortunes, with head coach Sammy Troughton naming an attacking line-up, including nine new players in his 18-man squad.

One of those players, Getaneh Kebede, who is on loan from Bidvest Wits, went close to opening his account for the capital side in the 17th minute.

The physical presence of Vukile Mngqibisa caused chaos in the Rise and Shine box, Kebede pounced, but the Ethiopian striker was unlucky to see his acrobatic effort fly just wide.

Troughton named three strikers in his starting XI, but it would be left-winger Zwane to open their account for the season in the 31st minute.

Kebede rolled it into the path of the speedy wide man, whose first-time thunderbolt from the edge of the area left Pule Konopi in the Polokwane goal with no chance.

Zwane completed his brace seven minutes later. A carbon copy to his opening strike, Thabiso Nkoana the provider this time around - the SuperSport United man setting-up the former Witbank Spurs ace, whose rasping effort snuck past the outstretched Konopi.

Polokwane City assistant coach Nkueni Mayala introduced Linda Shiba following the break and the substitute almost had the desired effect, with his shot from an acute angle hitting the outside of the post within seconds of coming off the bench.

With the visitors bombing forward, the chance of AmaTuks scoring the decisive third on the counter-attack became more and more likely.

AmaTuks almost punished Polokwane in this manner in the 72nd minute. Kebede beat the offside trap before passing to Atusaye Nyondo, who had the keeper beaten,but not retreating Sibusiso Mbonani, who cleared the Malawian’s effort on the line.

Having seen Shiba go close to scoring from the bench, Mnyamane latched onto a Nyondo pass within a minute of replacing Kebede to wrap up the result - his left-footed shot sneaking past Konopi.

University of Pretoria (2) 3 (Zwane 31' 38' Mnyamane 85')

Polokwane City 0

Teams:

University of Pretoria: Arubi, Jaure, Monyai, Mngqibisa, Mwedihanga, Zwane, Ketjijere, Ntombayithethi, Nkoana (Nyathi 59'), Kebede (Mnyamane 84'), Nyondo (Bacela 87')

Polokwane City: Konopi, Masenamela, Tshilo, Mbonani, Molekwane, Ngobe (Shiba 46'), Bogere (Jacobs 76'), Nene, Maluleke, Ndou (Mncwango 65'), Tlolane