Second-half goals from Sifiso Myeni and Takesure Chinyama earned Orlando Pirates a 2-0 win over Ajax Cape Town on Tuesday night in Soweto.

The Buccaneers dominated for much of the proceedings at the Orlando Stadium and thoroughly deserved all three points, which moved them into second place on the Premiership table.

Roger de Sa’s men now trail Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs by just three points, the Amakhosi’s 3-1 triumph over Bidvest Wits on Heritage Day having maintained their 100% start to the season.

The Sea Robbers showed their attacking intent early on in the midweek clash, peppering Ajax shot-stopper Sander Westerveld’s goal with several long-range strikes.

And it wasn’t long before Tlou Segolela almost put the hosts in front when in the 22nd minute he found himself unmarked and free to shoot inside the box.

But having flummoxed the onrushing Westerveld, defender Nazeer Allie was well-placed on the goal-line to clear the Pirates winger’s shot at goal.

Pirates continued to probe for the opener before the break as Daine Klate cracked on the pace on the left. He then tried to cross the ball onto the head Myeni inside the box, but the ball flew over his head and into Westerveld’s arms.

The home side resumed their barrage on the Capetonians’ 18-yard area after the restart, but it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the second stanza.

Allie’s bullet shot from a lay off from Koen van de Laak crept just under Bucs number one Moeneeb Josephs but struck the right upright.

Unlucky for Maarten Stekelenburg’s charges that it didn’t go in because moments later Pirates were ahead on the scoreboard through Myeni.

The Bucs attacker, who put in a Man-of-the-Match performance, dummied centre-back Matthew Booth on his right before he smashed home from well outside the box with his left.

Myeni’s 55th minute strike only encouraged the Sea Robbers to press even further upfield and create wave after wave of attacking surges, only a dogged Urban Warriors keeping them at bay

Yet it wasn’t until the final seconds of the encounter that Pirates notched up their hard-fought second goal through replacement forward Chinyama’s brilliant left-footed turn-and-shoot from the edge of the area.