Pirates edge past City to book MTN8 semi-final spot

by Bertin Basson

Saturday Oct 17, 2020. 20:30

Terrence Dzvukamanja’s solitary strike spearheaded Orlando Pirates to a 1-0 win over 10-man Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.

Victory booked Pirates’ place in the semi-finals of the MTN8 where they join SuperSport United who beat Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 3-2 at Thohoyandou Stadium earlier today.

City were the better team in the opening exchanges but it would be Pirates to open the scoring through a towering Dzvukamanja header in the 23rd minute. Wayde Jooste, who knocked Pirates out of the competitions while playing for Highlands Park at the same stage last season, teed up his fellow debutant who rose above the City defence.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men with 33 minutes on the clock following a dangerous tackle by Fagrie Lakay on Jooste.

Pirates pushed forward after the half-time break as they aimed to make use of their man advantage and created a catalogue of chances, but poor decision making in the final third kept the Citizens in the game.

Thabo Nodada came very close to firing City level in the 65th minute. The midfielder’s curling effort from the edge of the area had the beating of Wayne Sandilands but flew inches over the crossbar.

Peter Leeuwenburgh then made a string of good saves as City grew more desperate and that desperation almost paid dividends in stoppage-time as Abbubaker Mobara’s effort on the opposite end of the park flashed narrowly wide. In the end, Pirates held on to book their place in the final four.

Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Dzvukamanja 23′)

Cape Town City (0) 0

Orlando Pirates: Sandilands; Ndlovu, Nyauza, Hlatshwayo, Jooste, Motshwari, Makaringe, Hotto (Tlolane 66′), Pule (Jele 90+1′), Dzvukamanja (Dlamini 65′), Mhango (Lepasa 80′).

Cape Town City: Leeuwenburgh; Edmilson, Mobara, Fielies, Mkhize, Mokeke (Kewuti 88′), Roberts (Makola 86′), Nodada, Mdantsane (Morris 46′), Martin, Lakay.