Pirates cruise past Maritzburg for semis
JOBURG - Orlando Pirates cruised to the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout after beating an uninspiring Maritzburg United 2-0.
This was the first quarter final match of the knockout competition played at the Orlando Stadium in which Kermit Erasmus opened the scoring with a brilliance goal in 25th minute of the game.
The Buccaneers continued to apply pressure on the visitors in hope of getting a cushion goal before the half time break but that was not to be.
In the second half, Pirates started where they left and made telling moves in raid of the Maritzburg goal and their efforts resulted in a penalty in the 50th minute.
High riding Mpho Makola pounced on a rebound from the penalty after the Maritzburg keeper, Virgil Vries failed to handle the ball and Makola made no mistake.
Bucs coach Eric Tinkler took off Erasmus for Gift Motupa and later Makola for Heilbron, Free State boy Thandani Ntshumayelo while his counterpart at Maritzburg, Clive Barker, introduced Sheldon van Wyk and Mohammed Anas.
Maritzburg’s clear-cut scoring opportunity fell on Kurt Lentjies, who beat an offside trap but shot wide off the posts on a one-on-one with the Bucs keeper, Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Maritzburg’s Kwanda Mngonyama, Ryan de Jongh and Van Wyk were all yellow-carded while the Bucs camp came out on a clean slate.
Prospects of rain threatened to scupper the match in its late stages but the threat then fizzled out into a dust storm that covered most parts of the city.
