Orlando Pirates’ hopes of sealing a quadruple this season went up in smoke after they were booted out of the Nedbank Cup by Casric Stars FC at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Following a 0-0 draw after extra time, the Buccaneers succumbed to a penalty shootout, which Casric won 5-4. Having lost to Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in a Betway Premiership in midweek, it was a result the Sea Robbers did not want going into next weekend’s Soweto Derby showdown against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Buccaneers’ exit from the Nedbank Cup means the PSL’s big three, including Chiefs and Masandawana, are all out of this competition this season. From the team that lost 2-1 to Sundowns, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made four changes to his squad. He brought in Mpho Chabatsane and Deano van Rooyen for Lebone Seema and Kamogelo Sebelebele, respectively.
Andre de Jong and Tshepang Moremi were also in the lineup in place of Yanela Mbuthuma and Oswin Appollis. Ouaddou’s opposite number, Bucks Mthombeni, opted to bench the experienced duo of Justice Chabalala and Mfundo Thikazi.
Kaizer Chiefs loanees Ofentse Kgosana and Manqoba Ozoemena were also on the bench. It was the visitors from Mpumalanga who made the first attempt at goal when Cameroonian striker Simon Moukete’s grounder went just wide, eight minutes into the match.
Pirates’ first realistic chance at goal came in the 22nd minute when Mofokeng’s curler drew a fantastic save from Casric goalkeeper Wandile Mthombeni. De Jong could not direct Moremi’s low cross into the net on the half-hour mark.
FRUSTRATION FOR OUADDOU AS PIRATES DOMINATE BUT LACK BITE UPFRONT
Bafana Nana then almost punished Deon Hotto for some poor defending just after the restart, but Sipho Chaine was on hand to save the dangerous situation. Then shortly after, at the other end, De Jong failed to beat Mthombeni in a follow-up to Mofokeng’s saved shot.
Moremi then came close with a low shot on 58 minutes as Pirates struggled for a breakthrough, although they dominated play. Frustration was creeping in as the Buccaneers continued to miss the target, and this time it was Hotto whose shot narrowly went wide.
With three minutes to go, Masindi Nemtajela had his promising shot blocked as Casric’s valiant defending kept the Soweto giants at Bay. Neither side could breach the other, and the match spilt into extra time.
The Buccaneers continued with their dominance, but the killer punch could not come, even when Appollis forced a good save from Mthombeni, who also impressively denied Kamogelo Sebelebele. Still, it remained goalless, and a penalty shootout was needed to decide the contest, with Nkosinathi Sibisi, Chabatsane and Nkosikhona Ndaba missing their kicks for Pirates.
ARROWS ELIMINATE 10-MAN STELLENBOSCH
After the Round of 32 heroics of knocking out Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch FC’s run in the Nedbank Cup ended following a 1-0 defeat by Lamontville Golden Arrows FC at King Zwelithini Stadium. Angelo van Rooi’s 66th-minute strike separated the two sides on an evening the Maroons ended with a man short after defender Thabo Moloisane received a red card with seven minutes to go.
Arrows advance to the quarter-finals as they bid to win this tournament for the first time ever. Saturday’s result might reflect badly on Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt, who is now on a four-game winless streak, with two defeats and as many draws across three competitions.
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