Orlando Pirates Edge Amazulu To Reach Nedbank Cup Semi-final
Orlando Pirates Edge Amazulu To Reach Nedbank Cup Semi-final. Orlando Pirates edged ever closer to defending their Nedbank Cup title after a hard-fought victory over AmaZulu FC on Saturday evening.
The Soweto giants clinched a hard-earned win against a determined Usuthu side at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, booking their place in the semi-finals of the prestigious South African knockout competition.
Orlando Pirates maintained a robust start to the match, forging two crucial opportunities within the opening three minutes of the intense showdown. Nevertheless, Usuthu effectively withstood Orlando Pirates’ pressure, capitalizing on a counterattack to break the deadlock through Hendrick Ekstein’s strike from the edge of the box at the half-hour mark.
The Buccaneers swiftly turned the tables, finding their equalizer with a heightened intensity that earned them a penalty. Patrick Maswanganyi coolly converted it, ensuring both teams headed into halftime on level terms.
In the second half, the Pirates took control, claiming a 2-1 lead with Kabelo Dlamini’s remarkable free-kick in the 57th minute. However, their advantage was short-lived as Amazulu’s Taariq Fielies nodded in a free header to level the match at 2-2.
Orlando Pirates intensified their pace in the 82nd minute, as Makhehlene Makhaula confidently netted their third goal, propelling the visitors into a commanding position with a 3-2 lead in the match. To seal the deal, Maswanganyi found the back of the net for the fourth goal, securing a hard-earned victory for the Pirates and propelling them into the Nedbank semi-final round.
