Orlando Pirates thrashed Sekhukhune United 3-0 to reach the final of the MTN8 at a sold-out Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
MTN8
Teams: Orlando Pirates v Sekhukhune United
Result: 3-0
Scorers: Mokobodi (36′), Lunga (39′), Moremi (90+2′)
The advantage from the first-leg favoured the Buccaneers following their narrow victory last Saturday in Polokwane, but Babina Noko wasn’t keen to go down without a fight and needed an outright victory by two or more unanswered goals to stay alive.
In the third successive instalment, the Buccaneers looked
In the third successive instalment, the Buccaneers looked for a fast start in the earlier exchanges right when a low curling shot by Oswin Appollis forced Toaster Nsabata to stretch to the near post and palmed.
Pirates continued piling on the pressure towards the half-hour mark and were close to taking the lead with a pin-point header by Ghampani Lungu from a corner, but a speculator one-hand stop by Nsabata denied the Zambian.
Following constant pressure, Babina Noko altered their stall ten minutes to the end of the first half and substituted D’Angelo Kazeem for Tsepo Mokoena to step up and filled in.
Check out some of the match action in the gallery above.
The change make matters better as the Buccaneers
The change make matters better as the Buccaneers raced in front a minute later when Appollis worked a turnover from a corner to the far side for Yanela Mbuthuma who cutback to the far post for Thapelo Mokobodi to tuck into the bottom-corner.
Mbuthuma made another foray in the pockets of the area and released the on-rushing Lungu to finish first-time into the near corner with the visitors caught square and their backs to goal.
Pirates still piled on the pressure after halftime and almost added to their tally with a curling shot from a tight angle in the box by Mbuthuma, but he was parried by Nsabata.
The visitors enjoyed much of the play afterwards
The visitors enjoyed much of the play afterwards as Siphesihle Mkhize made a telling run on the far side to drop a shoulder and get a shot in from a tight angle, but Sipho Chaine kept him out.
In looking to regain the momentum, the Buccaneers refreshed their eleven around the closing quarter and saw Mpho Chabatsane come on for Lebone Seema before Mbuthuma made way for Boitumelo Radiopane.
Pirates showed a strong end to the game and had the final say at the death when Kamogelo Sebelebele combined with a reverse pass into the area by Tshepang Moremi and side-footed in, as it finished 3-0 with the holders in the final.
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Source: www.kickoff.co.za
