Orlando Pirates bounced back from their continental disappointment with an impressive 4-1 win over Maritzburg United at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Buccaneers were unchanged after their Caf Confederation Cup final defeat on penalties by RSB Berkane, as Thembinkosi Lorch played in a false No 9 role alongside Kwame Peprah and Deon Hotto up front – desperate to put the pain behind them with a strong finish to the season.

The Soweto giants got off to a fast start and almost took the lead early on when Lorch was slipped in behind, but the Bafana Bafana forward couldn’t beat goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt in the one-on-one with eight minutes gone.

Lorch was proving a threat and, after hitting the post in the 10th minute, got his name on the scoresheet with 21 minutes played as he curled one past Engelhardt after snatching up Deon Hotto’s through-ball.

Pirates hit the post again, this time via a Happy Jele header, before eventually doubling their lead just before the interval as Peprah rounded off a counter-attack with a first-time finish from Lorch’s square pass.

The home side continued where they left off in the second half as Hotto netted their third, Lorch picking another assist as his inch-perfect cross was rifled in by the Namibian to round off a lightning counter.

Maritzburg pulled a goal back three minutes later but, when Dlamini scored the fourth. the game was over, Lorch picking up his third assist to add to his opener.

In the end, an impressive 4-1 victory for the Sea Robbers who still hope to finish second.