Orlando Pirates avoided being stung by EC Bees to march to the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday with a 3-1 victory at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
Pirates played with a lot of caution against the amateur side because they have been struggling in the league, and four years ago, they were stunned by Maluti FET College from the ABC Motsepe League in this tournament.
The Bees were buzzing, not intimidated by their opponents, who are the second-most successful team in Nedbank Cup history.
The side from the third-tier of South African football looked to dent the Pirates’ fragile confidence, which is at an all-time low.
They managed to do that briefly after Bongani Chikile stole the ball from a wayward pass by Issa Sarr. The enterprising Chikile ran from the centreline to beat Siyabonga Mpontshane, with Sarr and Ayanda Gcaba lurking.
That piece of individual brilliance showed that the hosts can hold their own, especially coming after an audacious free kick from Mpho Makola that showed the midfielder’s and Pirates’ class.
That class from Makola and the Buccaneers hasn’t been consistently present this season. This win will give them confidence going forward in the league and the cup, which is their last shot at salvation as they aim to finish what has been a disastrous season on a good note.
This victory ended a 12-match winless run that stretched from November last year. Kjell Jonevret gave two of Pirates’ forgotten men, goalkeeper Mpontshane and Bernard Morrison, a rare start.
There was no place for the club’s top goal-scorer Tendai Ndoro, even on the bench, with MultiChoice Diski Challenge star Yusuf Maart on the first team’s match-day squad for the first time.
Morrison almost celebrated his return to the first team from the reserve side with a goal after being set up by Dove Wome, but the Ghanaian could only hit the woodwork from a glorious opportunity.
That moment came just a few minutes after Wome gave the Buccaneers the lead. The Togolese forward had Mpho Makola’s cross – after Makola waltzed past two defenders – deflected into his direction. Wome tapped the ball into an open net to help Pirates settle into this match.
Wome has had a good start to his tenure at Pirates, on loan from SuperSport United, as the goal was his third in the club’s last five games.
Kjell Jonevret will be delighted with his first victory as Orlando Pirates coach. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
The plucky amateur side took the game to the Buccaneers and ran them ragged, led by veteran Welcome Qalanto upfront.
The ABC Motsepe League side didn’t show Pirates any respect, which was appreciated by the crowd that filled the stadium. But that crowd was at the receiving end of Thamsanqa Gabuza’s wrath after he secured the Buccaneers’ two-goal lead.
The much-criticised striker went to the crowd with his hand on his ear, gesturing to them as if to ask if they had anything to say to him, having found the back of the net.
That antic earned Gabuza a booking and soured his on-off relationship with the Ghost.
Pirates were joined by Golden Arrows, Days FC, Mbombela United and Acornbush FC to make it 12 clubs confirmed in the last-16.
The other four will book their places on Wednesday and the draw will be conducted on Thursday.
Acornbush, from the ABC Motsepe League, caused a major upset by eliminating Premiership high-fliers and Telkom Knockout champions Cape Town City with a 1-0 win at Kabokweni Stadium.