Orlando Pirates Triumph in MTN8 Thriller, But Injury Concerns Loom
Orlando Pirates defeated Durban City 2-1 in a tense MTN8 quarter-final, securing a spot in the semi-finals thanks to Ghampani Lungu's late extra-time goal. The victory was marred by an injury to captain Nkosinathi Sibisi and exposed Pirates' ongoing struggles with goal conversion and set-piece effectiveness.
Orlando Pirates secured their spot in the MTN8 semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Durban City on Saturday afternoon at the Orlando Amstel Arena, with Ghampani Lungu scoring a late winner in extra time. However, the win came at a cost, as captain Nkosinathi Sibisi sustained an injury and was substituted at half-time, raising concerns for coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The Buccaneers started the match with clear attacking intent but struggled to find an early breakthrough against a resilient Durban City defense. Thalente Mbatha and Tshepang Moremi had early opportunities, with Moremi's free-kick striking the crossbar. Durban City also posed a threat on the counter, but the game's dynamic shifted dramatically in the 33rd minute when Durban City defender Brooklyn Poggenpoel was shown a second yellow card and sent off for bringing down Moremi inside the box. Patrick Maswanganyi calmly converted the resulting penalty, sending Sangare the wrong way and giving Pirates a 1-0 lead at the break.
Despite playing with ten men, Durban City responded energetically after half-time, with Lubumba leveling the score in the 52nd minute following effective link-up play between Shandu and Gaston Sirino. Coach Ouaddou, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the difficulty of MTN8 cup games and confirmed Sibisi's injury, which necessitated his substitution at half-time, with Mpho Chabatsane replacing him alongside Lebone Seema in defence. Pirates continued to dominate possession and create chances, but their inability to convert them became a recurring theme, with Sangare making several key saves to deny Pirates' efforts from Appollis and Moremi.
With no winner found in normal time, the match proceeded to extra time, which proved to be another intense battle. Moremi again hit the crossbar with a free-kick, and Domingo tested Sangare. Durban City continued to threaten through Morris, but Pirates eventually ramped up the pressure. Finally, in the dying moments of extra time, new signing Ghampani Lungu delivered the decisive blow with a powerful volley from a corner, sending the Buccaneers into the semi-finals.
Despite the victory, the performance highlighted several areas of concern for Orlando Pirates. Coach Ouaddou expressed frustration over the team's missed