Outstanding Pirates humiliate Stellies to go fourth

Orlando Pirates put on a mesmerising performance as they humiliated Stellenbosch FC 4-1 at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

Both sides headed into the game in mixed form, with the hosts looking for a second consecutive win to reignite their hopes of finishing best of the rest as Sundowns look on course to win yet another league title. 

The visitors, meanwhile, have not tasted victory since October against Maritzburg United.

The game had a fairly quiet opening five minutes as both teams looked to be testing each other out.

However, the hosts started to take control of the game and from a resulting free-kick, Thabang Monare scored a fine header to score his first goal of the season after a delightful ball from Monnapule Saleng in the 7th minute giving Stellies keeper Sage Stephens no chance.

The goal seemed to give the Buccaneers life as from then on, the visitors struggled to get a hold of the ball as the duo of Deon Hotto and Monnapule Saleng gave the Stellies defence no rest.

Stephens nearly had a moment to forget as Kabelo Dlamini struck a teasing corner, however, thankfully for the keeper, the ball flew across the face of goal instead of the net.

After pushing and probing, the hosts eventually doubled their lead following a catastrophic piece of goalkeeping from Stephens.

The hosts had a corner cleared but a loose ball was picked up by Saleng who was in fine form throughout the game. He turned and fired a dangerous ball back into the penalty area which Stephens should have collected.

However, he misjudged the flight of the ball as he tried to claim it. Instead of landing in the goalkeeper's hands, it fell to Innocent Maela, who smashed it into the net. The error from Stephens was no surprise as he was shaky throughout the