Tshegofatso Mabasa scored a hat-trick as Orlando Pirates returned to winning ways with a 7-1 hammering of Golden Arrows at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers got off to the perfect start after Mabasa gave them the lead in the 11th minute after slotting the ball home on a rebound from a Makhaula shot.

Pirates doubled their lead three minutes later when Relebohile Mofokeng fired his effort into an empty net on the rebound.

The side added a third goal in the 32nd minute when Kabelo Dlamini fired his effort into the near post after latching on to a ball by Mofokeng.

Mabasa had a chance to add a fourth goal just before the half time interval, but the striker could not slot his penalty home as the game went into the half time break.

The Soweto giants made it 4-0 seven minutes into the second half when Mabasa made amends for his penalty miss to compete his brace with his close range effort after receiving a cross from Thabiso Lebitso.

Pirates continued their onslaught of Arrows when Sandile Mthethwa powered his header home from a Dlamini cross.

Arrows managed to pull a goal back seven minutes later after Lungelo Nguse found the back of the net after he was played through on goal.

Mabasa eventually bagged his hat-trick in the 78th minute when he fired the ball home with a side-footed effort inside the box.

Pirates were not done as substitute Karim Kimvuidi completed the scoring with a brilliant finish as the Buccaneers ended the game with a 7-1 score line at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Photo by Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix