Oupa ‘Ace’ Manyisa scored the only goal of the game as Orlando Pirates defeated University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Thursday evening.

Manyisa’s goal early in the second half – his second this week after scoring in a 3-0 win away to Platinum Stars on Monday afternoon – saw the Buccaneers take full advantage of AmaTuks’ status as poor travellers (they have yet to even score a goal on the road this season) and rack up successive league wins for the first time in 2013/14.

Pirates created the first clear sight of goal on 13 minutes, with Kermit Erasmus sending a powerful effort on target that was punched back to him by goalkeeper Washington Arubi, though the striker couldn’t make anything of the second chance.

Erasmus had another effort on goal in the 30th minute, getting a header on target from Daine Klate’s cross, but it was an easy save for Arubi. The Buccaneers were bossing possession, but lacked the cutting edge up front that they so aptly demonstrated in the first half hour of their match against Platinum Stars on Monday.

Erasmus, clearly Pirates’ liveliest player in attack, had another snap shot from just inside the penalty area in the dying minutes of the first half, but the ball flashed wide of the far post, leaving the game goalless at the break.

Tuks had rarely threatened in the first 45 minutes, but early in the second stanza striker Geoffrey Massa first forced a sharp save from Senzo Meyiwa with a well-struck shot, before getting a free header seconds later that he failed to capitalise on.

On 53 minutes Pirates took the lead with what the visitors will consider a ‘soft’ goal. Sifiso Myeni cut inside from the right and shot with his left foot, Arubi appeared to have it easily covered, but Oupa Manyisa arrived out of nowhere to divert the ball past the ‘keeper for his second goal this week.

Tuks attacker Mpho Maruping almost took full advantage of some sloppy defending from the hosts with just a quarter hour to play, bursting through the defender before sending a low shot just wide of the far post.

That was to be the last genuine scoring chance of the match, as Pirates held out for a 1-0 win that takes them up to 13th on the log on 13 points. Tuks remain in 11th on 14 points.

Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Manyisa 53’)

Pirates: Meyiwa, Jele, Lekgwathi, Gcaba, Matlaba, Manyisa, Jali, Ntshumayelo, Myeni (Thwala 78’), Erasmus (Bacela 89’), Klate

U Pretoria: Arubi, Shoyisa, Kekana, Monyai, Sibande, Oluwafemi (Mosadi 63’), Matsi (Mathosi 74’), Ngubane, Ketjijere, Maruping (Tarumbwa 90’), Massa