Orlando Pirates went level with Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns as they continued their good run of form with a 2-0 victory over Chippa United 2-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday, November 25.

Second-half goals from Evidence Makgopa and Oswin Appollis made it eight wins in nine matches for Abdeslam Ouaddou's side, who still have a game in hand on the Brazilians and are kept off the summit on goal difference.

The Buccaneers were seeking their 11th win of the season in a bid to keep pace with Sundowns at the top of the standings, while Chippa looked to arrest a worrying six-match winless run which left them firmly entrenched in the relegation zone.

The hosts completely dominated proceedings as they seemed to create chances at will in the first half, although Vusumuzi Vilakazi's side had the first sniff at goal when Bienvenu Eva Nga tested Sipho Chaine on four minutes from a counter-attacking move.

Dumisani Msibi was then called into action twice in the space of three minutes to deny Sipho Mbule and Relebohile Mofokeng, who produced another save out of the goalkeeper with a shot from range on 26 minutes.

The action quickly switched to the other end as Eva Nga flashed a shot over the crossbar after getting the better of Nkosinathi Sibisi and the final chance of the half saw Deon Hotto also clear the target from a free-kick in the 37th minute.

Msibi was alert to the danger as he made a brave save to keep out Yanela Mbuthuma from close range on 50 minutes, while Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis were both guilty of failing to work the keeper midway through the second half.

However, the pressure finally told on 75 minutes when Mofokeng played in Hotto with a defence-splitting pass he squared the ball for Makgopa to tap home from a few yards out.

The visitors almost hit back five minutes later, but Chaine stood firm to prevent first Asanele Bonani and then Sirgio Kammies from equalising in quick succession.

Chaine was well-placed to make another save from Bonani in the third minute of stoppage time and the Soweto giants went up the pitch to seal the win through Appollis moments later.

Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Makgopa 75', Appollis 90+4')

Chippa United 0

Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, T. Lebitso, L. Seema, N. Sibisi, D. Hotto, M. Nemtajela, T. Mbatha (M. Makhaula 61'), R. Mofokeng, S. Mbule (O. Appollis 62'), T. Moremi (K. Dlamini 82'), Y. Mbuthuma (E. Makgopa 61').

Chippa United: D. Msibi, S. Kammies, H. Majadibodu, I. Fasika, M. Modise, S. Seabi (R. Gamildien 82'), A. Mariko (S. Ntsundwana 46'), J. Figuareido, A. Matrose (A. Bonani 72'), X. Sithole (B. Madingwane 46'), B. Eva Nga (B. Hlophe 58').