Tshepang Moremi scored twice while providing an assist as Orlando Pirates eased past Milford FC in their Last 16 clash of the Carling Knockout Cup with a 3-0 score-line in Orlando on Tuesday, to stay on course to defend their title.
Fresh from qualifying for the group stage of the CAF Champions League, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made two changes for the clash dropping Simphiwe Masilela and Nkosikhona Ndaba and starting Ghampani Lungu and Deon Hotto instead.
- ALSO READ: Duba Hat-Trick Fires Chiefs Into Carling Knockout Quarters
- Sundowns Advance To The Carling Knockout QF
The Buccaneers issued early warnings to their opponents inside the opening five minutes with a Lungu attempt landing in the goalkeeper’s hands while Moremi’s shot went slightly wide.
They kept knocking and in the 15th minute Moremi set up Thapelo Mokobodi who broke the deadlock with his second goal in as many matches. There were several attempts from the defending champions to double their lead through Thalente Mbatha, Evidence Makgopa and Moremi.
Their resolution was rewarded when Mbatha combined with Moremi in the 33rd minute for the latter to score his first goal of the game after rounding the keeper.
Pirates made an early sub in the 39th minute, introducing Mpho Padime for the injured Lungu. The youngster brought a goal with from the bench as he set up Moremi in the injury-time of the first time to complete his brace to give Pirates a 3-0 lead at the break.
Pirates returned unchanged for the second half, while Milford made four substitutions. It was a calmer start to the stanza and nine minutes in, it was Pirates with a shot at goal as Moremi looked to set up Padime but Milford defense were first on the ball.
There was shot on target from the Stallions a minute after the hour mark albeit tame from Vusimuzi Mthabela which was an easy save for Sipho Chaine.
In the end, Ouaddou could rest of few of his players with the likes of Boitumelo Radiopane, Mohau Nkota, Cemran Dansin and Mthetheleli Mthiyane seeing out the match from the 64th minute onwards, with Makgopa, Moremi, Mbatha and Bulelani Sigomoshe making way.