Orlando Pirates finished second in the Absa Premiership notwithstanding their impressive 3-0 thumping over Polokwane City in their last league game of the season at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers finished two points behind 2018/19 champions Mamelodi Sundowns who beat Free State Stars 1-0, also on Saturday, to deny the Soweto-based team.

Despite the loss Polokwane finished the season in fifth place.

The Buccaneers got off to a flying start with the opening goal in the seventh minute when Augustine Mulenga played Thembinkosi Lorch through on goal and he made no mistake with just the keeper to beat, 1-0.

Pirates doubled their lead in the 19th minute when a thunderous long-range effort from Vincent Pule found the corner of the goal, 2-0.

The home side continued to dominate matters and made it three four minutes before the break with a second goal for Lorch as he drove into the box from the left and fired into the roof of the net.

It was 3-0 at the break.

Polokwane were a much better side at the start of the second half and almost pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Bongile Booi met an inch perfect cross into the box, but his ten-yard header rattled the crossbar.

Pirates found their feet once again in the second half and came close to scoring again in the 77th minute when Luvoyo Memela let fly from 20-yards out, but his low shot scraped the outside of the post.

The pace of the game died out after that as the Buccaneers cruised to an easy win as they finished second on the league table.

Pirates (3) 3 (Lorch 7’ + 41’, Pule 19’)

Polokwane (0) 0

Teams

Pirates: 30. Sandilands; 23. Maela, 33. Munetsi, 4. Jele, 28. Dube; 27. Motshwari (Shonga 87’), 14. Nyatama (Makola 83’), 45. Pule, 3. Lorch, 11. Memela, 17. Mulenga (Qalinge 75’)

Polokwane: 50. Phali; 33. Mvelase, 24. Hlongwane, 27. Motloung, 22. Mbonani (Maponyane 68’), 20. Phiri, 25. W. Maluleke (Sikhondze 83’), 31, Wagaba, 8. J. Maluleke, 29. Mphambaniso, 3. Anas (Booi 46’).

Orlando Pirates will look to claim the Absa Premiership title when they end their season with a clash at home to Polokwane City on 11 May 2019, kick-off at 15h00.

Pirates’ title hopes suffered a blow when they were held 2-2 away to Cape Town City on May 4, a result which ended a four-game winning run for the Soweto giants. However, they remain the trophy hunt and will hope to end the day as champions.

The Buccaneers have claimed 25 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 win over Free State Stars in mid-April.

Polokwane suffered their seventh defeat of the season (and a second from their last three matches) when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Chippa United on May 4. Despite the result, the Limpopo side will finish inside the top six.

Rise and Shine have claimed 22 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 2-0 win at Highlands Park in late April.

In head-to-head stats, City and Pirates have met in 11 league matches since 2013/14. The Buccaneers have claimed four wins compared to one for Rise and Shine, while no less than six matches have been drawn. The Soweto side boasts an unbeaten home record in the rivalry, with two wins and three draws from five turns as hosts.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Peter Mokaba Stadium in November 2018, Pirates claimed a 2-1 away win over Polokwane thanks to goals from Marcelo and Justin Shonga. The result broke a run of six straight draws between the teams.

Pirates’ line-up from their 2-2 draw with Cape Town City on May 4: Sandilands, Jele, Munetsi, Maela (Qalinge 90'), Nyatama, Motshwari, Dube (Mulenga 87'), Pule, Memela (Mlambo 75'), Lorch, Shonga.

Polokwane’s line-up from their 3-1 loss to Chippa on May 4: Chigova, Mvelase (Mashumba 68’), Nkili, Motlaung, Mbonani, Seabi (Mpambaniso 69’), J. Maluleke, Manaka, Musona (Mngomezulu 60’), Anas, Tlolane.