The victory also kept them within touching distance of top spot with the only opening third of their league campaign wrapped up. Their opponents meanwhile continued to endure a miserable spell, falling to a fourth consecutive defeat to remain bottom of the table.

With two forced changes made from the team that routed Marumo Gallants at Orlando Stadium a few days prior, the Buccaneers were in search of three more points to close off the year. They appeared to be continuing from where they left off at first, creating a chance in the fourth minute for Makhehleni Makhaula who managed to draw a save from Elvis Chipezeze with a firm shot from outside the box.

Much of the rest of the first half however failed to match what was a promising start as the visitors faltered in the attacking third. They had to wait until late in the first 45 for the game’s first definitive moment which came as the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Lehlogonolo Mokone was given his marching orders for a cynical challenge on Mohau Nkota.

The Buccaneers were quick to take full advantage of their numerical superiority, edging ahead in the 45th minute through Relebohile Mofokeng, who dummied outside the box before producing a brilliant effort that beat the outstretched Chipezeze on its way to the bottom corner.

It appeared as if their lead would be short-lived as they conceded a penalty just before the break. Magesi striker Wonderboy Makhubu however failed to convert as he fired wide despite sending Sipho Chaine the wrong way.

Having been handed an escape late in the first half, Pirates looked to double their lead early in the second period. Midfielder Kabelo Dlamini had an opportunity to do so as he was teed up by Thalente Mbatha, but his effort from just outside the box was some way off from the target.

Such was the theme throughout the second half with Mohau Nkota also going wide with a 65th minute effort from range. Chaine meanwhile stood up well to the odd chance conjured up by the home side as he pulled off a spectacular save to keep out what looked like a goalbound shot in the 71st minute.

It was however Pirates who enjoyed the more clear-cut opportunities as they continued to control the tempo. Replacement forward Gilberto played a neat ball for fellow substitute Patrick Maswanganyi, whose first-time shot from inside the box went straight at Chipezeze who managed to parry the ball into safety.

The Angolan international remained lively throughout the latter stages, but could not spark up a decisive moment. The clock eventually ran out as the Soweto Giants claimed their ninth league win in 10 matches.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen (Monyane 78’), Mako, Mbatha, Makhaula (Maswanganyi 46’), Dlamini (Tshobeni 88’), Nkota (Gilberto 73’), Mofokeng, Makgopa (Radiopane 46’).

A spirited first-half display from the tournament debutants left the Buccaneers reeling, leaving them with an uphill climb and ultimately sealing their early departure from the competition.

It was however the visitors who were up against it during the early exchanges as the home side enjoyed most of the possession. Pirates meanwhile could not take full advantage of their initial dominance with Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze untroubled for the most part.

Chances fell to Tshegofatso Mabasa and Karim Kimvuidi in the opening 15 minutes, but both players failed to direct the ball on target. Kimvuidi had another bite at the cherry moments after his first opportunity, this time drawing an easy save from the visiting shot-stopper.

Shots continued to fly from the Buccaneers with Mabasa and Monnapule Saleng each firing off target just before the half-hour mark. This was moments before the tide turned, as Dikwena tša Meetse found the decisive touch in the 32nd minute.

The breakthrough came against the run of play with Delano Abrahams finding himself in oodles of space on the right before nodding home to make it 1-0. It only took the visitors seven minutes to double the lead, with their second goal coming in rather fortuitous fashion as Thabiso Sesane turned the ball into his own net while attempting to deal with a ball from out wide.

Things went from bad to worse for the Buccaneers, as they conceded a penalty after Deolin Mekoa was deemed to have been fouled inside the box. Edmore Chirambadare stepped up to take the spot kick but was denied by Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine, the Zimbabwean was however lucky with the rebound with the ball landing back in his path, and he made no mistake in making it 3-0 at the stroke of halftime.

Faced with plenty of ground to cover in the second half, the Soweto Giants introduced fresh legs in the form of Mohau Nkota who made his way to the field just before the second-half restart. The teenager was quickly involved as he brought out the best in Chipezeze with a firmly struck left-footed shot.

His battle with the shot-stopper continued in the 57th minute when he was denied from close range. Mabasa also went close just moments later, firing at goal from just in front only to rattle the crossbar.

The Buccaneers continued looking to reduce the deficit and could have done so from a free kick taken by Dlamini who sent his effort on target but was denied by Chipezeze. With four minutes remaining on the clock, the midfielder was however able to breathe life into the contest as he beat the Magesi keeper from long range to cut the deficit down to two.

A grandstand finish was set up three minutes later as Evidence Makgopa fired in from inside the box, with his shot deflected out of Chipezeze’s reach to make it 3-2.

The drama continued until deep into injury time when Nkota appeared to have sent the game into extra time with a late strike. However, the goal did not count as he was adjudged offside.

That proved to be Pirates’ last real chance as they had left themselves with too much to do, bowing out on the first hurdle of the Carling Knockout.

Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Rasebotja (Maswanganyi 59’), Dlamini, Saleng (Nkota 46’), Mofokeng, Kimvuidi (Makgopa 59’), Mabasa.

It was a historic encounter between the two teams meeting for the first time in the Reserve League. Both were coming off disappointing results, having each suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 season. Pirates conceded a chance just moments after the first whistle with a defensive error that went unpunished as the resultant attempt at goal fell wayward.

Opportunities were slow to come by at the other end for much of the opening quarter, with the visitors keeping things quiet in their defensive third.Bucs winger Seth Green managed to force a save off Magesi keeper Sechaba Khota in the 27th minute with a firmly-struck ball from out wide. The shot-stopper came up tops once more just after the half-hour mark, this time denying Simphiwe Masilela.

The hosts continued to grow into the game well into the dying minutes of the first period, but the team from Limpopo managed to exploit some lapses in concentration as they created a couple of chances against the run of play. Pirates keeper Khumoetsile Rathokolo was however equal to the task along with defender Nelson Ralenkoane, with the pair pulling off vital stops to keep things scoreless.

It was the Buccaneers who nearly had the final say ahead of the break when Gosiame Ngobeni was played through on goal, but only managed to force a save off Khota. Magesi were first to get a sniff at goal in the second half, but were not able to convert. Pirates hit back with two opportunities of their own, both falling to midfielder Cemran Dansin who could not find the decisive touch.

Second-half substitutes Junior Williams and Aphelele Nzimande quickly got into the action moments after being introduced after the hour mark. Williams drew a save from Khota from close range before Nzimande’s shot from a free kick struck the woodwork.

Mistakes at both ends led to more missed opportunities in the closing moments, with Magesi coming close after a defensive error by Green. The winger looked to make amends on attack and drew a save from Khota who followed it up with another stop to deny Siphamandla Msezane’s effort from the rebound.

Nzimande had a late attempt in injury time, but failed to breach the visitors’ defences with Khota standing between the Buccaneers and maximum points. Despite the home side’s late flurry, Magesi held firm to see out the contest with points shared in the end.

Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Ralenkoane, Sibiya, Mokone, Mohlala, Selepe, Dansin (Williams 64’), Masilela, Green, Ngobeni (Nzimande 64’), Msezane.