Orlando Pirates produced a dominant display on their way to a 4-0 win in their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against Hungry Lions at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The victory paved the defending champions’ path into the quarterfinals in what was their first home game in this year’s edition of the prestigious tournament.
Following their convincing 6-0 win against fourth-tier outfit Crystal Lake in the opening round, the Buccaneers faced a step up in competition against the men from the Northern Cape. The Championship outfit gave a confident showing early on in the contest, making a couple of threatening forays into the hosts’ territory during the opening exchanges.
The Soweto Giants emerged from the nervy start still unscathed and were quick to impose themselves on the visitors.
A stroke of luck led to the breakthrough in the 20th minute when Relebohile Mofokeng managed to force a friendly deflection off the boot of defender Morena Monaheng, who unwittingly turned the ball past goalkeeper Glen Baadjies into his own net.
Pirates remained in the driving seat until late in the opening half when their defence was stretched, resulting in a shot at goal by Raymond Daniels who drew a save from Melusi Buthelezi.
Having taken a slender lead at the break, the hosts set about looking for their second after emerging from the tunnel, but neither Tshegofatso Mabasa nor Mofokeng could find the net as they each managed a shot at goal.
It took them until after the hour mark to double their lead, courtesy of some excellent work down the middle from replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini, who threaded a neat pass through for Mabasa, with the striker calmly slotting home to make it 2-0.
The wait for the next Buccaneers’ goal was not nearly as long, and it was provided just six minutes later by Monnapule Saleng when he was played in by another second-half sub in Deon Hotto before beating his marker and finishing past Baadjies.
Right back Thabiso Monyane could have added his name to the scoresheet late in the game when he drew two saves from the Ditau shot-stopper with successive shots at goal.
There was a heart-in-mouth moment at the other end of the field during the dying moments, with Muzomuhle Khanyi worming his was within scoring range before pulling his shot narrowly wide from close range.
It took until the last few seconds of the contest for the Buccaneers to add to their three goals, as Mabasa doubled his tally with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the box to complete the routing.
There was no time for further action, with the Buccaneers registering an emphatic win to take their title defence into the quarterfinals.
Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Xoki (Mthethwa 78’), Sibisi, Monyane, Maela (Hotto 64’), Timm (Dlamini 64’), Makhaula (Mbatha 45’), Saleng, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi (Kapinga 78’), Mabasa.
