Orlando Pirates cruised into the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal on Saturday to the obvious pleasure, as well as relief, of coach Jose Riveiro, whose side are looking to win the cup for a third successive season.
The 3-1 win over second tier Baroka at the Orlando Stadium came with a hattrick from Tshegofatso Mabasa and without any major headaches for Pirates, who next have two Betway Premiership tussles against Lamontville Golden Arrows away on Wednesday and Cape Town City home on Saturday to deal with.
☠️ FT | @orlandopirates 3 - 1 @Baroka_FC
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) February 15, 2025
🥅 Mabasa 29', 45', 63'
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#NedbankCup#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/lXFAWccWV7
“We are in the next round. That's the most important today,” said the Pirates coach after the contest.
“These games are never easy, in the way to find the right mindset, to approach the game, to spend more time in the rhythm that we are used to playing.
Orlando Pirates quest for history goes on in the #NedbankCup ☠️⏭️
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 15, 2025
They will be in Monday's quarter-final draw after an impressive win in Orlando 👇#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/M3paWZwCXv
“We were good in some little moments during the first half but not doing much we managed to get the lead. And obviously getting an early goal, everything becomes much easier to deal with at the halftime.”
Pirates’ first goals were marvellously created and both tucked away by Mabasa.
“We had a good advantage (2-0), not definitive, and then a good beginning of the second half,” added Riveiro.
“And then obviously we used that 3-0 scoreline to rest some of our players as well to give some time to players who are not frequently playing and trying to get more people involved now as we approach the last part of the season.
“It's normal that we didn't finish the game in very well organised way because of the substitutions and introductions in the last 30 minutes.
It's a HAT-TRICK for Mabasa ⚽⚽⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 15, 2025
Is this the pick of the bunch? 🤩👇
📺 Stream #NedbankCup on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/T5TzEXiKK7
“But like I said in the beginning, overall, I think it's the good news that we are in the next round. That was the main objective for today. There are only two possible results in knockout games and obviously we got the one that that we were looking for.”
It was a relief to finish the game in 90 minutes and avoid going into extra time.
Although Baroka did get a consolation goal, they never looked like forcing a dramatic comeback.
“Obviously, if there's something that we didn't need, it was extra time, because it would affect a lot the planning for the next week.
“We have difficult game away against Golden Arrows and we are hosting Cape Town City here on Saturday.
“So again, it's good to finish the game inside the 90 minutes and, like I said, also have the opportunity to give some other players game minutes. Not because we felt that the game was over, because in this game of football you never know, but getting a lead of three goals gives you that advantage.
“It gave us the opportunity to take Rele (Relebogile Mofokeng) off early to give him some rest. He is one of those playing every single game, almost every minute,” the Buccaneers boss said.