Orlando Pirates are through to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over SuperSport United on Saturday afternoon.
SuperSport United midfielder Gape Moralo scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal late in the quarterfinal clash of the Nedbank Cup against Orlando Pirates to give his side a fighting shot, taking the game to extra time and eventually the penalty shootout.
The goal came as Pirates looked set to progress to the semi-final round with a 2-1 win after goals from Mbekezeli Mbokakazi and Evidence Makgopa in the first half of the tie in Polokwane on Saturday.
But Sipho Chaine with two saves in the shootout proved to be the hero as the champions were made to sweat in order to book their semi place, winning the penalties 5-4.
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Pirates had survived an early scare at the first whistle from Gamphani Lungu a shot that Sipho Chaine did well to block. The visitors then missed a host of chances from that with Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota and Makgopa the biggest culprits to not burry chances. The hosts had another shot to take the lead through Enoch Quaicoe in the 25th minute but his effort went wide. Four minutes later Pirates won a corner kick. Deon Hotto stepped up and sent it to Nkota who didn’t score but the rebound found 19 year old Mbokazi unmarked and he slotted it home to open the scoring with his first goal in the professional ranks.
Makgopa could have doubled the lead six minutes later if he did not hit the side of the net. Three minutes to the break Matsatsantsa found the equaliser through Terence Dzvukamanja who punished his former side’s poor defending. However in injury time of the first half Makgopa regained the lead from a Nkota assist.
The start of the second half saw Oratilwe Moloisani replace Lungu for SuperSport while Pirates remained unchanged. The opening minutes of the stanza didn’t produce as much goal mouth action as the first half. There was an opportunity for Siphesihle Ndlovu to get the hosts back into the game just before the hour mark but he missed the target from range. Moloisane also had a shot with 20 minutes left on the clock but it went wide and Dzvukamanja as well but the latter’s attempt landed in Chaine’s hands. United’s persistence finally paid off deep in injury time when Moralo fired a powerful shot to equalise and take the match into extra time.
There were chances for Bradley Grobler to put SuperSport in the lead in the opening minutes of the opening half of extra time but he missed the target. Ricardo Goss also denied Deano Van Rooyen a golden chance to put Pirates back in the lead. In the second half Goss made crucial saves, denying Hotto twice, leaving the tie to be decided via a shoot-out.
