JOHANNESBURG - Emerging star Relebohile Mofokeng scored a superb goal to give Orlando Pirates a 1-0 win at bottom club Magesi on Sunday in the South African Premiership.
The victory kept the Soweto-based Buccaneers three points behind defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who triumphed 2-0 on Saturday at another struggling club, Richards Bay.
Sundowns have 30 points from 11 matches and Pirates 27 from 10 in what is shaping up to be a two club battle for the title.
Mofokeng struck in the final minute of the first half, sprinting diagonally just outside the area before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.
The 20-year-old wide midfielder is among several young players at Pirates who observers believe are destined to be snapped up by European clubs.
Sundowns maintained a 100 percent record under new coach Miguel Cardoso thanks to goals from two Brazilians, Arthur Sales in the first half and Lucas Ribeiro midway through the second.
Playing for the fourth time under the Portuguese, the Pretoria-based reigning champions are seeking an eighth straight Premiership title.
Apart from their domestic duel, Sundowns and Pirates have reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League this season, and both are unbeaten after three rounds.
While the two pacesetters won, nearest rivals Polokwane City (21 points) and Stellenbosch (16) dropped points in away draws on Saturday.
Polokwane drew 0-0 at mid-table Golden Arrows near Durban while Stellenbosch led sixth-placed SuperSport United before drawing 1-1 in Pretoria.
Both goals came from first-half headers with Jayden Adams rising at the near post to nod in a corner and Tashreeq Morris levelling by directing a cross wide of goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
A brilliant solo run and finish by Mduduzi Shabalala lifted Kaizer Chiefs to seventh after a 1-0 victory over Chippa United. The winners have won a record 53 domestic titles, but none since 2015.