Orlando Pirates have kept alive their dream of a third straight Nedbank Cup title following a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants that sees them in the final.
Pirates secured passage into the final for a third year on the bounce courtesy of Kabelo Dlamini’s 22nd minute goal as they downed a stubborn Gallants at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
The winning goal came through from a well-worked move from Pirates, which was started by Patrick Maswanganyi, who found Deano van Rooyen on the right wing, before the right-back gave a return pass to “Tito” and the midfielder brought in a good cut back.
Few chances after Dlamini’s goal
Dlamini met the ball with a first-time shot that left the Gallants goalkeeper with no chance as Pirates celebrated an early lead.
The visitors’ first real chance came on the stroke of halftime when Edgar Manaka had a shot on the Pirates goal but he was denied by Melusi Buthelezi, who was preferred in goal over Sipho Chaine on Sunday.
Sekela Sithole then rushed onto a loose ball on the edge of the box in the 56th minute but Buthelezi had positioned himself perfectly to deny him.
In the 69th minute, Evidence Makgopa found himself in space on the left wing but fired wide and 11 minutes from time, Tshegofatso Mabasa nearly combined with Deon Hotto for the second goal but the Gallants defence cleared the danger.
Historic feat for Jose Riveiro
With three minutes to go, Relebohile Mofokeng was played in on goal but he could not beat the goalkeeper as Pirates held on to seal a place in the final.
It is a sixth final in three years for Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, who has won the last five, making him the first tactician to have reached such heights in charge of the Buccaneers.
The Pirates coach is also unbeaten in the Nedbank Cup in his three years in charge of the club.
It keeps alive their dreams of making it three straight Nedbank Cups, a feat that has never been achieved, and they will be waiting to see who they will face in the final between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, who square it out in the other semi-final.
