By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
A second-half surge earned the defending champions Orlando Pirates a 2-0 victory over Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena on Thursday evening.
The victory moves Pirates to within four points of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with two games in hand.
The visitors put Pirates under pressure during the early stages of the encounter and forced a quick reaction save out of Sipho Chaine in their very first attack but failed to make the most of their opportunity.
Pirates battled to string passes together during the midway point of the first half and often fell short in the final third of the pitch. In moments where Durban City sat back, the away side continued to look dangerous going forward.
Durban City brought Chaine into action once more shortly before the break. After Kyle Jurgens picked out Jean Lwamba with an inch-perfect lifted through ball, the attacker let off a shot that stunned the gloves of Chaine.
The home side came out firing in the second half with Kamogelo Sebelebele troubling the Durban City goalkeeper with a right-footed shot at his near post.
Their pressure finally paid off when Lebone Seema rose highest to head past Fredrick Asare and break the deadlock.
Tshepang Moremi doubled the lead as Abdeslam Ouaddou’s charges sealed all three points with a 2-0 victory.
The win extends Pirates’ unbeaten run in all competitions to 25 games (W18 D7).
That is their longest stretch since they went a PSL-era club-record 27 games without defeat (W14 D13) during the 2018/19 season, which was finally ended by a 2-0 loss to Esperance in the CAF Champions League.