AmaBhakaniya began brightly, dominating possession from the onset and pinning the home side deep in their own half.

In the third minute TS Galaxy's Oupa Motaung was deservedly sent off after committing a panicked foul as the last man on Tshepang Moremi just outside the area after a precise Yanela Mbuthuma through ball behind the defence.

Bafana Bafana international Relebohile Mofokeng stepped up to score a stunning goal from the resultant free kick which left the outstretched Ira Tape to hand Bucs the lead.

Mbuthuma then improvised a tenth minute bicyle kick straight at the keeper Tape as Pirates piled on the pressure on the ten men but were failing to find the final touch.

Ivory Coast international goalkeeper Tape almost single-handedly kept the Rockets in the game with numerous big saves from Andre de Jong and Yanela Mbuthuma.

However, the Rockets failed to pick up an unmarked Moremi in the 41st minute who rifled home a powerful grass cutter following a smart shorter corner routine with Deon Hotto to double Bucs lead.

Things went from bad to worse as the home side conceded a comical own goal through captain Mlungisi Mbanjwa who passed into his own net after failing to see his goalkeeper fall to the ground prior to the pass.

The Buccaneers continued from where they had left off in the second half, after introducing Bafana winger Oswin Appollis for de Jong as they looked for more goals to boost their overall goal difference.

After a few more good saves from Tape, Mofokeng finished off neatly following good interplay with substitute Appollis in the 53rd minute to make the score 4-0.

Former Galaxy player added a fifth goal ten minutes later with a well taken strike across goal into the net after receiving good through ball from Masindi Nemtajela just inside the box.

Mofokeng completed his first ever hat-trick only after his speculative shot was fumbled and slipped through Tape's grasp to make the score 6-0 to the visitors.

Ouaddou rung the changes as his team closed out the result in the final stages to go back to the top of the Betway Premiership table, two points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.

Betway Premiership: AmaZulu, TS Galaxy set to battle for top-three contention