Orlando Pirates racked up an 10th successive win over Chippa United when they emerged 3-0 victors in a DStv Premiership clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.

Strikes from Deon Hotto and Ben Motshwari, as well as an own goal from Riaan Hanamub, saw the Buccaneers to a third win from their last four league outings, move up to second place on the log (one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns – having played four games more) and continue their dominance over the Chilli Boys, who have gone five without a win in the top flight and remain in 13th place.

Pirates made the early running but had to wait until the 21st minute for their first real threat on goal, with Hotto’s low cross from the right fumbled by goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on the subsequent loose ball.

A few minutes later it was Chippa’s turn to test out their opponents' defence, with Sizwe Mdlinzo’s low shot to the near post smothered by Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

Linda Mntambo, who has been playing as a makeshift striker for the Buccaneers in recent games, nearly broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark with a slick turn and shot inside the penalty area which clipped the outside of Mtshali’s right-hand post.

The Soweto side moved ahead in the 39th minute, with Hotto having an easy finish into an empty net from the left of the penalty area after Mtshali sprinted off his line to try and intercept a long ball, only to fluff his lines and hand the Namibian winger a major gift.

On 44 minutes it was 2-0, with Chippa defender Riaan Hanamub deflecting Fortune Makaringe’s pull-back into his own goal, and handing Pirates full control of the match.

Hanamub nearly made immediate amends with a brilliant free kick delivery which should have seen the deficit halved, but Sandile Mthethwa missed out on a glaring chance, leaving the visiting team two goals to the good at the break.

Chippa made a change at the start of the second half by introducing striker Augustine Kwem off the bench, but it was Pirates who threatened first, with Mntambo seeing his effort on goal turned away by a sharp save from Mtshali.

Midway through the second half Pirates needed Ofori to make a fine save, clawing away Mdlinzo’s looping header from a corner kick, but that was the last heart-in-mouth moment for the visiting team.

In fact, Bucs added a third in the 89th minute, with Paseka Mako squaring for Ben Motshwari on the counter attack, and the midfielder capped a fine personal performance with a well-taken strike into the bottom corner.

United will return to DStv Premiership action on Wednesday, 10 March with a home match against AmaZulu, while Pirates’ next league clash is away to Kaizer Chiefs on 21 March.

Chippa United 0
Orlando Pirates (2) 3 (Hotto 39’, Hanamub og 44’, Motshwari 89’)

Chippa: Mtshali, Mobbie, Mthethwa, Nhlapo, Hanamub, Booi (P. Maloisane 55’), Cezu (Kwem 46’), Sangweni, M. Maloisane, Mdlinzo, Eva Nga

Pirates: Ofori, Ndlovu, Hlatshwayo, Jele, Mako (Mabas 90+1’), Makaringe (Sam 68’), Monare, Motshwari, Pule (Mhango 68’), Hotto (Monyane 83’), Mntambo (Nyauza 83’).