In a thrilling display of football, Orlando Pirates overcame an early setback to secure a 4-2 victory against AmaZulu, advancing to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup. The match, filled with high stakes and relentless competition, unfolded at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, where the teams were evenly matched at 1-1 by halftime.
AmaZulu, fresh off their 2-0 win over Sekhukune United in the previous round, initially took the lead in the 30th minute. The goal came when Deon Hotto’s attempt to clear a ball from the left flank fell short, landing at the feet of Pule Ekstein who capitalized by firing into the net from just outside the box.
Orlando Pirates responded robustly. They were granted a controversial penalty just before the interval following a foul on one of their players by Taariq Fielies.
Patrick Maswanganyi then stepped up and slotted the ball home from the spot following the controversial decision.
The second half saw the Pirates take the lead for the first time in the game, thanks to Kabelo Dlamini’s stunning free-kick in the 58th minute, which came after the AmaZulu defensive wall crumbled. Despite this setback, AmaZulu demonstrated resilience, with Fielies redeeming his earlier error by scoring with a powerful header from a free kick to level the score once more.
As the match neared its climax, it was end-to-end action. The Pirates’ strategic substitutions paid dividends. Monnapule Saleng, coming off the bench, played a pivotal role by heading the ball to Makhehlene Makhaula who then scored from close range, tipping the scales in Pirates’ favor with a 3-2 lead.
Adding to his earlier goal, Maswanganyi sealed the victory with his second goal of the night, securing Orlando Pirates’ spot in the semi-final draw.
Elsewhere in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, Stellenbosch FC demonstrated their prowess with a convincing 4-0 win against SuperSport United on Saturday afternoon. Mamelodi Sundowns endured a tougher route, prevailing over the University of Pretoria in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extended play on Friday.
The last of the quarter-final matches is set to see Chippa United face TS Galaxy on Sunday, promising more captivating football action.
