Richards Bay celebrate beating Orlando Pirates on penalties to reach the Carling Knockout semifinals. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates continued with their poor form as they as the they were knocked out of the Carling Black Label Knockout in the quarterfinals by Richards Bay, losing 5-4 on penalties at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The match ended goalless after extra time and went to a penalty shootout. Deon Hotto failed with his first spot kick for Pirates, and everyone else hit the back of the net, meaning Richards Bay take their place in the last four.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have been knockout out of a domestic cup competition for the first time since Jose Riveiro took over at the start of last season.
Hotto had a chance from a set piece early in the game, but his effort hit the wall.
Pirates defender Nkosinathi Sibisi had chances from a couple of other deliveries into the box, but he couldn’t make the most of them.
In the second half, Jose Riveiro put on Relebohile Ratomo, fresh from from his trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers to help, but still nothing materialised.
The goals have well and truly dried up for Pirates, who have now failed in consecutive games against two of the top flight’s less-fancied teams. In midweek, they were beaten 2-1 by Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership. Before that, Spurs had not managed a single point.