Orlando Pirates broke their 12-match winless run with a 3-1 victory over minnows EC Bees in a thrilling Nedbank Cup first round game in Mdantsane yesterday.

The Premiership outfit were made to sweat by the ABC Motsepe League team, who found a consolation goal in front of a sold-out crowd here.

The little-known Bees, nicknamed Crazy Gang, showed the former African champions no respect as they took the game to Pirates from the onset.

Goals from Dove Wome, Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza handed Kjell Jonevret his first win since joining Pirates last month and brought to end a winless run that stretches back to November last year.

Pirates had the first shot on target with a sixth minute Thabo Matlaba volley after Bees failed to deal with a cross but goalkeeper Eziel Matatela was perfectly positioned to make a routine save.

The combination of Makola and Wome almost punished the hosts but Wome's header from the six yard box went agonisingly wide.

Wome made up for his earlier miss when he tapped into an open net in the 14th minute after Makola's shot was deflected towards him.

Bongani Chikila beat Happy Jele to a cross but his subsequent header lacked power.

In a move to try and contain Pirates in the midfield, Bees introduced Simphiwe Dlamini in place of Phikolomzi Kefile.

Makola doubled Pirates' lead early in the second half with a floated free kick.

Bees immediately hit back in the 54th minute with a Chikila strike, but Gabuza restored Pirates' two-goal lead in the 66th minute. Bees tried hard to catch up but found the Pirates defence, for a change, solid as they won for the first time in three months.