Erasmus magic sees off 'Downs

Pretoria - Two fantastic goals from Kermit Erasmus and another by Lehlohonolo Majoro gave Orlando Pirates a 3-0 PSL win over Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus.

As it happened: Sundowns v Pirates

The first chance of the game arrived when Ayanda Gcaba rose high at the back post to meet a Kermit Erasmus corner kick, but his header was just wide and hit the side netting.

Then, in the 14th minute, Bucs opened the scoring when Kermit Erasmus ran onto a through ball and beat the offside trap, when he saw Kennedy with Mweene off his goal line, Erasmus chipped the ball delicately over the keeper for a classy finish.

The early goal brought the game into life and in the 26th minute Hlompho Kekana let rip with a trademark long range effort, which cannoned off the cross bar and back into play. Right away, Pirates surged forward and Thandani Ntshumaylo hit the side-netting with a shot of his own.

Then, on the half hour mark, Surprise Moriri chested the ball brilliantly and volleyed a first time effort that dipped onto the cross bar with Senzo Meyiwa well beaten as Sundowns continued to ask questions.

Four minutes later Erasmus should have had No 2 when he received the ball inside the danger area and turned his marker, but because he was leaning over as he shot on goal, the ball went wide of the post.

At the start of the second half, Pirates lodge an official complaint over Alje Schut's administrative playing card not being present at the start of the game.

Also at the start of the second half Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane replaced Schut, who was kicked in a dangerous tackle by Issa Sarr late in the first half, with Thabo Nthethe.

In the 62nd minute Daine Klate had time to wait for the ball to drop to a height for him to volley at goal, but his effort was blocked by a Sundowns defender as the game began to swing from end to end.

But just a minute later and Erasmus had bagged No 2 for Pirates with another sublime finish. Klate played an early through ball down the line and in behind the last defender. Erasmus chased the ball and with Mweene in no man’s land he was able to lob the ball over him and into an empty net.

Elias Pelembe saw a very good attempt of his saved by Meyiwa in the 74th minute but in a matter of seconds Pirates went further ahead after a Thabo Matlaba breakaway resulted in Lehlohonolo Majoro turning Nthethe inside out and driving home a left footed shot.

Thabo Matlaba was sent off right at the death for a silly studs up challenge on Kuda Mahachi.

Scorers:

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa, Gcaba, Matlaba, Jele, Sangweni, Sarr, Ntshumayelo, Klate (Makola 66’), Manyisa, Myeni (Nyauza 84’), Erasmus (Majoro 67’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Langerman, Schut (Nthethe 46’), Mphahlele, Booysen, Modise, Kekana, Niang (Malajila 57’), Pelembe, Zungu (Mahachi 46’), Moriri