Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says he is delighted with the Buccaneers’ display after their 3-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

A brace from Luvuyo Memela and a goal from Thembinkosi Lorch cancelled out Leonardo Castro’s first-half goal to steer the Buccaneers to an impressive win over their Soweto rivals.

The Buccaneers keep their title hopes alive as they continue to put pressure on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns after reducing the gap to just four points.

‘First of all, we were surprised the way Chiefs came at us with [Joseph] Molangoane and Rama [Ramahlwe Mphahlele] overlapping. They were overlapping our midfield and this is where they had the advantage,’ Sredojevic told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘We scored first and they scored from a set piece. At half-time, we regrouped and looked at things and brought a tactical change to have more bodies in midfield to outnumber them.’

Sredojevic believes that Luvuyo Memela put his side ahead at the most opportune time in the second half, which gave him the confidence to grab his second goal in the match.

‘Memela scored at the right time in the second half. We could have scored more, but we are happy to have won against a good team. It’s good for South African football. I’m happy we got the three points,’ he added.

‘Memela came in at half-time and scored so it was the right change. With [Mpho] Makola, we wanted to have three central players in the middle so that we win that central area and with [Augustine] Mulenga, we wanted to give him a debut and I believe he showed South Africans he can deliver so much.’

Orlando Pirates will now turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup when they travel to face Cape Town City on 14 March, with kick-off set for 19:30.