The Soweto Giants were completely dominant on the night, but a misfiring front line meant they were still level with their opponents at the break. Second half goals from Thabo Matlaba and Sifiso Myeni, however, helped the hosts to a comfortable scoreline.
With the victory, Pirates move away from the lower region of the table to 10th place with 15 points from 12 games. Tuks, meanwhile, remain in 15th with just nine points from 13 matches.
Pirates player Kermit Erasmus had the first chance of the match, with a headed attempt which drifted narrowly over the crossbar with just over 60 seconds played.
Issa Sarr had a sharp chance in the eighth minute when Erasmus sent a free kick into the area, but his deflected shot was straight at Washington Arubi in the Tuks goal.
In the 17th minute, former Pirates player Lennox Bacela out-dribbled the Bucs defence, but his shot was straight at Brighton Mhlongo in goal.
Erasmus had an even better chance in the 21st minute, but his powerful shot from a tight angle drew a fine reaction save from Arubi.
It was Mhlongo’s turn to be tested, when he pulled off two stunning saves in succession from Bacela before Thabo Mnyamane drove in the rebound powerfully but again the keeper was alert to the danger to keep the scores level.
Mnyamane went close again in the 36th minute. The striker made a menacing move in the midfield and from 25 metres out produced a swerving strike which needed the save from Mhlongo who succeeded in deflecting the ball into the post before the danger was cleared.
Matlaba broke the deadlock in the 47th minute. Erasmus was involved once again as he held off his opponents in the midfield, spotted Matlaba making a run into the box, and delivered a a perfectly-weighted pass for his teammate who pulled off a clinical strike from an acute angle as the ball rifled into the top left corner of goal.
Tuks were quick to respond to going a goal down in the 50th minute, as Mnyamane made a menacing run into the area before reeling off a shot which needed the close attention of Mhlongo who turned the ball away for a corner.
A surging Pirates counter attack in the 85th minute resulted in the second goal for Pirates. Thabo Qalinge’s whipped in the cross which was punched away by Arubi, before Myeni blasted the ball into the back of an open net to complete a well-earned victory.
Source: African News Agency (ANA)
