Leopards maimed in Bucs drubbing

Orlando Pirates were just too good for hapless Black Leopards last night.

The 4-0 win catapulted the Absa Premiership defending champions to the second spot on the log, a position they temporarily surrendered on Tuesday night.

Pirates asserted themselvesin the second half, scoring all the goals after the first stanza failed to produce any.

Collins Mbesuma, who had a quiet first half, opened the floodgates with a powerful shot in the 47th minute that beat goalkeeper Azwindini Maphaha.

Thandani Ntshumayelo increased the tally in the 59th minute from a long-range effort.

Then it was Daine Klate's turn to have his name on the score sheetwhen he struck the third goal three minutes later. Klate had profited from a telling pass from substitute Tlou Segolela in his first contact with the ball.

Substitute Happy Jele put the encounter beyond Leopards' reach when he completed the rout 10 minutes from the whistle with Klate the provider.

Bucs' first scoring opportunity came in the 15th minute when Maphaha easily saved Oupa Manyisa's powerful shot. A busy Maphaha was again called to make a great save in the 26th minute, this time denying Klate.

Leopards regrouped. Joshua Obaje should have scored before the break but the striker's effort was thwarted by Lucky Lekgwathi in the 32nd minute.

Rodney Ramagalela was denied by Bucs' goalie, Senzo Meyiwa, in the 41st minute as the home side tried everything to find the net before the interval.

It was the visitors who came close to scoring before the break, but Khethowakhe Masuku's effort went narrowly wide .

Kgomotso Sethusha reports from Lucas Moripe stadium that a late Anthony Laffor strike spared Mamelodi Sundowns a few blushes but did nothing to lift the team from the bottom of the log as the Tshwane giants played to a 1-all draw against AmaZulu.

It was yet another poor result by Sundowns as the home side earned their fourth league draw of the season.

It was barely a shock result given the crisis into which the team has plunged this season. It could have been worse had Laffor not saved face and made up for his poor performance with a goal four minutes before time. He latched onto a Edward Manqele's pass to slot home.

Teko Modise played a short but decisive pass into the box, which found Manqele, who fed Laffor to tap home.

AmaZulu are surely still ruing their lapse in concentration deep in the second half, which denied them a rare away win.

It was Usuthu who broke the deadlock midway through the second half after long periods of misses, poor passes and near misses.

A ball that looked like a clearance from the AmaZulu defence found Ayanda Dlamini, who quickly laid on for oncoming Andile Khumalo to stroke home the opener in 77th minute.

At King Zwelithini stadium, Bloemfontein Celtic pipped Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 with an injury-time goal that came from a goalmouth scramble and caused confusion between the match officials, writes Sbu Mjikeliso.

Deep into referee's optional time, Lyle Lakay swung a menacing corner into the box that Arrows goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors spilt.

Thabo Nthethe managed to get a toe in during a frantic scramble. One of the assistants raised his flag to indicate an infringement, but Jerome Damon awarded Celtic the goal.

Furious protests from Arrows' players did little good as the bizarre winner stood.

But the home side could hardly complain after the barrage of chances they created throughout the game.

Pretoria University held Free State Stars to a goalless draw at Charles Mopeli stadium last night.