Orlando Pirates emerged as 3-1 winners over Richards Bay in an entertaining Nedbank Cup Last 32 match played at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The victory saw the Buccaneers keep their defence of the South African FA Cup on track, as they advanced to the Round of 16. Pirates will now turn their attention to their Soweto Derby encounter against Kaizer Chiefs on 1 February in a Betway Premiership clash.
Orlando Pirates get the #NedbankCup job done in KwaZulu-Natal 🌟
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 26, 2025
Up next, the Soweto Derby😏💥#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/R7iALZkMu7
The Natal Rich Boys, on the other hand, saw their campaign in the lucrative tournament come to an end as they were eliminated. The KwaZulu-Natal side will be determined to bounce back to winning ways when they face off with Magesi FC in a league clash on 31 January.
Mabasa gets one for the road 😏⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 26, 2025
The back-to-back champions have sealed it against the Natal Rich Boys 🌟
📺 Stream #NedbankCup on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/eoBsRtB3NK
The Buccaneers controlled the match from the start as they combined well in the Natal Rich Boys' half. The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when Relebohile Mofokeng set up Patrick Maswanganyi, whose long-range shot beat goalkeeper Ian Otieno hands down to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Mohau Mkota was involved in the build-up to the first goal and was a constant threat to the hosts' defence. The 20-year-old was involved once again when Maswanganyi grabbed his brace with a lovely finish in the 26th minute after being set up by the creative Mofokeng, and Pirates were leading 2-0 at the interval.
The Natal Rich Boys came back an improved side following their team halftime talk with coaches Ronnie Gabriel and Papi Zothwane. The home side pulled one back in the 47th minute through the in-form Yanela Mbuthuma, who beat keeper Melusi Buthelezi to make it 2-1 with the visitors' defence exposed.
Coach Jose Riveiro reacted by introducing Kabelo Dlamini in the 75th minute and he proved to be an inspired substitute. The left-footed playmaker set up Tshegofatso Mabasa, who netted with a low shot to seal Pirates' 3-1 win over Richards Bay in stoppage time - much to the delight of the Buccaneers faithful.
Richards (0) 1 (Mbuthuma 47')
Pirates (2) 3 (Maswanganyi 22', 26', Mabasa 90'+3)
Richards: Otieno, S Dube (Dlamini 46'), Ndaba, Mabua, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Gumede (Ndelu 83'), Mhlongo (Radebe 83'), Mbuthuma, Mohlamme (Conco 65'), Ntsundwana (Kutumela 46').
Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Sesane, Xoki (Maela 75'), Van Rooyen (Ndlozi 50'), Hotto, Mbatha (Dlamini 75'), Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Nkota (Shandu 65'), Mofokeng, Mabasa