Orlando Pirates were made to sweat against a 10-man Durban City before eventually producing the goods in a dramatic finish to prevail in their MTN8 quarter-final clash against Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
The long toil at home ensured that the Buccaneers were the first team to progress to the semifinals of this year’s edition of the top-eight competition as they marched past their first hurdle for the fifth time in as many seasons. It kept their own title defence alive, while the Durban outfit’s return to the competition remained a brief one through an early exit.
Switching to knockout football after a successful league outing at the same venue a week ago, the home side were not quick to find the going easy against the men from the coast, who were first to find a shot at goal just seconds after the first whistle. Midfielder Tylo Sanger was the first to get an effort away as he blasted inches wide of the Bucs goal.
That early scare turned out to be a rare surge forward for the visitors as most of the action occurred inside their half early on. Despite enjoying some dominance in both possession and territory, Pirates could not immediately make it count with their only shot on target inside the opening quarter coming through midfielder Thalente Mbatha who had his attempt turned away for a corner by goalkeeper Fredrick Asare.
A wayward shot right on the half-hour mark from Jean Lumumba was the sole spark from the Durbanites as the half wore on, with Tshepang Moremi hitting back moments later with an effort of his own which landed inches wide of the target. The latter part of the first period saw Pirates piling the pressure on the men in blue, who struggled to escape their half of the pitch.
The pressure told when a heavy touch from Brooklyn Poggenpoel inside City’s penalty area directed the ball towards Moremi, with the midfielder’s scramble to amend for his error resulting in a reckless challenge on the Bucs winger. Referee Alfred Chavani pointed to the spot and issued a second yellow card for the offender, reducing the visitors to 10 men for the rest of the contest.
Patrick Maswanganyi stepped up to convert from the spot and did just that with a calm finish to hand the Buccaneers the lead with only eight minutes remaining before the break.
The hosts’ efforts to extend their lead moments from the halfway mark resulted in a few efforts at goal, but neither Cemran Dansin nor Moremi could find the target. They were dealt a blow halfway through the contest with the withdrawal of captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, who did not emerge from the tunnel and was replaced by debutant Sbangani Zulu.
A quiet start to the second half was interrupted in telling fashion seven minutes in as City made their first real foray inside the Pirates box. They made the most of the opportunity, with Lumumba finishing past Sipho Chaine from close range to draw level.
Looking to restore their lead, the Buccaneers had a chance through Moremi in the 58th minute, but the winger’s effort from inside the box landed well wide of the target. This was before a set piece at a fair distance out, taken by Oswin Appollis who only managed to find Asare’s gloves.
Second-half sub Kabelo Kgositsile followed this up with an attempt of his own, going narrowly wide with a powerful shot from the left. The winger had a late attempt from close range kept out after collecting a rebound from a saved Tshepang Moremi effort.
Despite their dominance in the closing moments of regulation time, the hosts failed to produce a late winner with the contest heading to extra time eventually.
The first period of extra time began with another close call at the City goal with Moremi rattling the woodwork from a dead-ball situation two minutes after the restart. Further shots from debutant Thapelo Mokobodi threatened but could not produce the goal needed to edge Pirates ahead.
The same script was followed throughout the last 15 minutes, with Pirates failing to find the finishing touch despite comfortably dictating terms. However, just as it looked as if penalties would decide the tie, another one of the home side’s late introductions produced a moment of magic in the dying moments.
The winner came through the boot of Gamphani Lungu, who was perfectly-positioned to catch a rebound off a clearance from a Bucs corner before volleying into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
That finish proved decisive as there wasn’t close to enough time for the visitors to launch a comeback, with Pirates’ persistence paying dividends at the most crucial phase.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sebelebele (Lungu 96’), Sibisi (Zulu 45’), Ndaba, Mbatha, Dansin (Mokobodi 80’), Maswanganyi (Masilela 80’), Appollis (Kgositsile 65’), Moremi, Mbuthuma (Radiopane 65’).
