Showcasing their class in yet another cup competition, Orlando Pirates advanced to the next round of the Carling Knockout Cup on Friday night, following a 2-0 win over Cape Town Spurs at the Orlando Stadium.
After a strong showing in the second-half, coupled with efforts from Thapelo Xoki and Kermit Erasmus, the Buccaneers advanced to the next stage of the Carling Knockout Cup.
Pirates held most of the ball during the opening stages of the match and strung the ball around midfield with relative ease. While applying early pressure, the Soweto giants won the ball back high up the pitch but failed to make the most of their chances in the final third.
The Urban Warriors managed to get into the game on a few occasions after the 10-minute mark and likewise had a couple of goal scoring chances of their own. However, the Pirates defence did enough to stifle the Spurs attacks.
Spurs often took the direct route in an attempt to breach the Pirates defence and showed the home team that they have something to offer going forward. Therlo Moosa and Luvuyo Phewa linked up well in the 26th minute and caught the Pirates defence on the backfoot for a brief moment.
While Phewa beat a couple of defenders with a darting run into the 18-yard-area, the attacker squared the ball to Moosa, who narrowly missed the target with a side-footed attempt.
Pirates came close to opening the scoring five minutes before halftime, after Dean Hotto breached the Spurs defence by latching onto a well-time lob into the box by Miguel Timm. While Hotto slid the ball past the goalkeeper, Nazeer Allie read the danger and cleared the ball off the line.
While Pirates had the last say at the end of the first 45, the home team got the second-half off on a positive note. The likes of Thembinkosi Lorch and Kermit Erasmus did well to progress the ball up field but fell short at the final hurdle.
The Buccaneers were awarded a penalty shortly before the hour mark, as goalkeeper Zama Dlamini impeded Evidence Makgopa inside the area. In stepping up to the spot, Thapelo Xoki sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a well taken effort.
Pirates doubled their lead in the 64th minute as Kermit Erasmus got his name on the scoresheet. After capping a well-constructed passing move on the edge of the Spurs box, Erasmus rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
The Buccaneers stroked the ball around with confidence after doubling their advantage and continued to pile on the pressure going forward. As the clock ran down, Spurs were reduced to defending on the edge of their penalty area.
Nevertheless, Pirates advanced to the next stage of the Carling Knockout Cup following a 2-0 win at the Orlando Stadium.
Orlando Pirates: (0) 2 (Xoki 60’, Erasmus 64’)
Cape Town Spurs: (0) 0
ORLANDO PIRATES: Chaine (Buthelezi 30’), Xoki, Ndah, Shandu, Hotto, Timm, Monare (Baloni 72’), Maswanganyi (Pule 73’), Makgopa (Kimvuidi 79’), Lorch, Erasmus
CAPE TOWN SPURS: Dlamini (Ramsbottom 63’), Lukhubeni, Allie, Haukongo, Dortley, Morton (Mfecane 78’)(Baartman 78’), Buchanan, Nel, Thethani (Msani 55’), Phewa, Moosa