Orlando Pirates booked their spot in the semi-finals of the MTN8 with a 3-1 win over SuperSport United in their quarter-final played at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening. After a long wait for the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the two sides served up a highly- entertaining clash to match the lively atmosphere with the contest decided at extra time after the opening 90 minutes finished with scores level.
It was the men from Tshwane who enjoyed most of the early opportunities, largely due a nervy start from the home side. The best of their early chances fell to veteran striker Bradley Grobler, who fired wide from the edge of the box following a turnover of possession in the middle of the park.
Former Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule had a similar opportunity in the 12th minute, but only
succeeded in launching the ball over the crossbar. The Buccaneers could only kick into gear midway into the first half, and had their first real shot at goal courtesy of Relebohile Mofokeng who was perfectly-positioned to finish off a smart move towards the penalty area, but could only produce a wayward attempt.
United keeper Ricardo Goss was called into action moments later, with Tshegofatso Mabasa
producing an excellent turn to evade his marker before drawing a save from the outstretched
shot-stopper. The hosts continued to probe, with Patrick Maswanganyi getting close on the half-hour mark with a firmly-struck shot from range deflected wide by Goss. When it looked as if the two sides were set to head to the break still deadlocked, defender Olisa Ndah put Pirates ahead with a clever flick from close range as Monnapule Saleng revived the Bucs following the visitors’ failure to clear the threat from a set piece.
After trailing at the break, United emerged from the tunnel more energized and were
immediately rewarded for their drive as Pule nodded home in the 49th minute to make it 1-1. The Soweto Giants enjoyed a promising spell around the hour mark, pushing successive waves of attack deep inside the opposition half without affecting the scoreline. This period saw Mofokeng denied twice in the span of two minutes by Goss, followed by a narrow attempt from Mabasa who headed wide after connecting with a superb cross from Maswanganyi.
The Matsatsansa shot-stopper thwarted Saleng in the 76th minute, parrying the ball into the
path of Mabasa who could not direct his volley into the net. Neither side could find a winner inside 90 minutes, with the game eventually going into extra time. The Buccaneers had the perfect start to the extended period, with Saleng drawing them ahead after getting on the end of a brilliantly-worked set play just two minutes after the restart.
With United looking to force the game into a shootout, Sipho Chaine came up with an excellent stop to keep out a seemingly goal-bound shot from Nyiko Mobbie hit from close range. The visitors faced an uphill climb in the second period of extra time when substitute striker extended the home side’s lead when he pounced on a loose ball outside the box, directing it into the net to make it 3-1.
It could have been four goals to one in the final minute if not for the upright, which denied Kabelo Dlamini as he went for goal from just inside the box. However, the defending champions had done just enough to ensure a winning start to the new campaign as they sealed their spot in the last four.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Ndah, Sesane, Monyane, Hotto, Makhaula (Dlamini 72’), Mbatha ,
Saleng, Mofokeng (Kimvuidi 90’), Maswanganyi, Mabasa (Makgopa 84’).
