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Pirates come out on top in Usuthu goal thriller

football14 April 2024 04:30| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates were made to sweat for a spot in the Nedbank Cup semifinals as they fought hard to beat AmaZulu 4-2 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening in a six-goal banger.

The match was entertaining from the very beginning as both teams went neck and neck. Orlando Pirates’ first chance came in the early minutes as AmaZulu’s defence was caught napping and Ramahlwe Mphahlele had to make a clearance off the goal line from a Tshegofatso Mabasa effort.

Within four minutes, Mabasa was through on goal once again and Veli Mothwa had to make a save. The Buccaneers were very persistent in the opening 10 minutes, overwhelming Usuthu.

The home team was not discouraged and an opportunity came for Victor Letsoalo in the 12th minute but he could not connect well with Tshepang Moremi’s cross.

AmaZulu finally broke the deadlock in the 30th minute as Deon Hotto’s poor clearance from Riaan Hanamub’s cross caused Hendrick Ekstein to punish the Bucs as he bagged his second goal of the competition.

Makhehlene Makhaula was brought down in the box by Taariq Fielies towards the end of the first half, causing the referee to point to the spot. The penalty was taken by Patrick Maswanganyi and the first 45 minutes between the teams ended all square.

The second half was equally as intense as it began with Innocent Maela having to save the day with a crucial tackle as a misplaced pass from Kabelo Dlamini put Ekstein through on goal.

Pirates would once again gain momentum as a free kick was awarded and scored brilliantly by Dlamini from just outside the box. However, the Soweto team didn’t keep the lead for long as Fielies headed home from close range from Hanamub’s well-taken kick.

Ekstein would come close to scoring again in the 71st minute but his shot came off the crossbar. A momentary lapse in concentration from Usuthu’s backline caused Makhehlene Makhaula to score his first goal for Pirates after getting onto Monnapule Saleng’s header as he was left unmarked.

The Buccaneers finished the job in stoppage time as Maswangwanyi smacked the ball into the corner of the net, grabbing his brace.

AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ekstein 30’, Fielies 63’)

Orlando Pirates (1) 3 (Maswanganyi 45’ 90+3’, Dlamini 58’, Makhaula 82’)

AmaZulu: V. Mothwa, T. Sikhakhane, T. Fielies, R. Mphahlele, A. Mobara, R. Hanamub, T. Moremi (C. Ngema 79’), B. Motshwari (A. Chidi Kwem 87’), V. Letsoalo (J. Dion 68’), M. Mbanjwa (A. Mulenga 79’), H. Ekstein

Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, D. Hotto, I. Maela, T. Sesane, T. Lebitso, M. Makhaula (N. Ndlondlo 87’), M. Timm (T. Mbatha 69’), R. Mofokeng (M. Saleng 78’), P. Maswanganyi, K. Dlamini (S. Mthethwa 87’), T. Mabasa

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