Defending champions, Orlando Pirates, are through to the Nedbank Cup final after a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Sunday afternoon.
Kabelo Dlamini scored the only goal of the match in the first-half to secure a third consecutive final for the Soweto giants.
Pirates made some notable changes to their starting line-up from the side that played against USM Alger in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana winger Relebohile Mofokeng and the club’s first-choice goalkeeper Sipho Chaine started the game on the bench.
ORLANDO PIRATES SEAL A HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY AGAINST MARUMO GALLANTS
It only took 30 seconds for the home side to create a real chance in the match. This was after right-back Deano Van Rooyen nearly capitalised on a mistake by Daniel Msendami. But his shot found goalkeeper Washington Arubi well-placed to make a save.
After dominating play in the early stages of the game, the Buccaneers were finally rewarded in the 22nd minute. Dlamini’s shot on the edge of the box was too powerful for Arubi, giving Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, Gallants almost capitalised on a mistake by Melusi Buthelezi, but the Buccaneers defenders regrouped quickly to stop the danger.
Gallants’ captain Edgar Manaka nearly found an equaliser for the visitors, but his shot inside the 18-yard area was saved by Buthelezi.
A THIRD NEDBANK CUP FINAL FOR OUTGOING COACH JOSE RIVEIRO
The first real chance of the second-half came in the 70th minute for Pirates. However, a miscommunication between Evidence Makgopa and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo resulted in the home side wasting the glorious opportunity.
Substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa missed a golden chance to double the lead after his shot inside the box was cleared off the line by Lebogang Mabotja. A few moments later, Arubi produced a world-class save to deny second-half substitute Mofokeng with five minutes to go.
It is the third straight Nedbank Cup final for Pirates under Jose Riveiro in the three seasons that he has been in charge. The Spaniard has won the last two finals that he qualified for.
Riveiro’s troops will know their opponents for the Nedbank final after the second semi-final match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs this evening in Pretoria.
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