Tshepang Moremi emerged as the hero for Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon, delivering the decisive strike against Richards Bay FC in the Carling Knockout Cup semi-final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The attacker scored the all-important goal for the Buccaneers in the first-half, sending his side to the final, where they’ll face Golden Arrows or Marumo Gallants, who will face off in the second semi-final on Sunday.
Pirates travelled to KZN to face Richards Bay, aiming to maintain their pedigree as PSL cup kings, having won five domestic trophies in the past three seasons.
The Soweto giants have already defended their MTN8 title in the current season under the guidance of head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who took over the coaching job in the off-season. Winning the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC two months ago secured Pirates’ incredible streak of four successive trophies in the top-eight competition.
However, the Carling Knockout has proven elusive for the Sea Robbers in recent seasons. They suffered a shock quarter-final defeat against Natal Rich Boys in 2023, followed by one of the competition’s biggest upsets last season—a stunning 3-2 loss to Magesi FC in the Last 16 of the Beer Cup.
Pirates appear determined to reverse that recent history in this campaign. They successfully navigated the early rounds of the Carling Cup, first beating Siwelele FC in the Round of 16 and then avenging last year’s loss by claiming a win against Magesi in the quarter-final. This set up a semi-final clash against Richards Bay, where Pirates immediately began to dominate the opening exchanges in both ball possession and scoring chances.
PIRATES BOOK A SPOT IN THE CARLING KNOCKOUT CUP
Pirates found the breakthrough just before the break, with the in-form Moremi finding the back of the net in the 42nd minute. The goal, which took his season tally to eight across all competitions, sent the Buccaneers into halftime leading 1-0 and firmly securing one foot in the final.
Looking for a crucial equaliser in the second half, the home side, Richards Bay, made an attacking substitution, pulling off veteran striker Gabadinho Mhango and bringing on Lindi Mahala to inject fresh legs into their forward line.
In the closing minutes of the match, Richards Bay piled relentless pressure on the Houghton-based side, desperately pushing for a goal that could inspire a dramatic comeback and send them to the Carling Cup final.
Despite all the late efforts from the Natal Rich Boys, Pirates’ defence held firm. They successfully protected their slender one-goal advantage, thanks to Moremi’s solitary strike, to secure their spot in the 2025 Carling Knockout final.
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