Orlando Pirates broke their Kaizer Chiefs jinx and booked a place in the May 27 final of the Nedbank Cup with a tense 2-1 extra-time victory over Kaizer Chiefs at a packed and raucous FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Kermit Erasmus and the unlikely figure of Sandile Mthethwa gave Pirates the win, while Yusuf Maart took the game to extra-time with a goal for Chiefs, whose club record barren run without a trophy will now extend beyond eight years.
It will be a first Nedbank Cup final for Pirates at Loftus Stadium later this month since they lost back-to-back deciders against SuperSport United in 2016 and 2017, and follows on from their win in the MTN8 earlier this campaign.
There was lot to admire about their first goal. The pass from Miguel Timm to Monnapule Saleng was superb and allowed the latter to run into space in the box.
Saleng then chose the right option in trying to square the ball for Erasmus, which he did via a slight deflection off Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. The forward could not miss.
It is a second Soweto derby goal for Erasmus following a league strike against Chiefs in October 2013. Erasmus also moves to the top of the list of Nedbank Cup semifinal scorers since 2008 with a third. His other two came for SuperSport United over a decade ago.
Maart then punished Pirates again, though on this occasion it was a simple finish rather than his 60-yard effort earlier this campaign.
It was a real poor piece of play from Pirates as Maart advanced forward and was not tracked by anybody, so when he was slipped in by Dillon Solomons, had time to pick his spot and slide the ball past Sipho Chaine in the Pirates goal.
It looked as though penalties would be necessary, but Pirates grabbed victory in the 114th minute as Mthethwa rose highest to head in a cross from Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and seal the final place for The Buccaneers.
It is his first goal in over a year and just the ninth of his career, but he will surely not have scored any bigger.
It means Pirates reach a fifth Nedbank Cup final since 2008, joining Mamelodi Sundowns on that number, and will be hoping for a first win since they beat BidVest Wits in the 2014 decider.
Pirates also broke their Chiefs jinx and denied the AmaKhosi a record equalling sixth victory in a row against them. That will be a relief for all concerned, but the thought of a second piece of silverware this campaign will also be sweet, especially as they close in on Champions League football too.
It also makes it likely that whoever joins them in the final from Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune United on Sunday will likely play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, with Pirates set to book African club football via their league position.
2023 NEDBANK CUP SEMIFINAL FIXTURES/RESULTS
May 6
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Maart 80’) Orlando Pirates 2 (Erasmus 14’, Mthethwa 114’)
After extra-time
May 7
18h00: Stellenbosch FC vs Sekhukhune United – Danie Craven Stadium
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 29
Goals Scored: 93
Biggest Victory: Sekhukhune United 6 Liver Brothers 0 (February 8, Last 32)
Most Goals in a Game: 9 – TS Galaxy 3 Stellenbosch FC 6 (March 12, Last 16)
GOALSCORERS
6 goals – Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC)
5 – Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns)
3 – Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Kgomotso Mosadi (Casric Stars)
2 – Ashley du Preez (Kaizer Chiefs), Kermit Erasmus (Orlando Pirates), Rodrick Kabwe (Sekhukhune United), Yusuf Maart (Kaizer Chiefs), Rhulani Manzini (Venda Football Academy), Levy Mashiane (Royal AM), Vusimuzi Mncube (Sekhukhune United), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Chibuike Ohizu (Sekhukhune United), Masilake Phohlongo (TS Galaxy)
1 – Mumuni Abubakar (Casric Stars), Diego Appollis (Chippa United), Francis Baloyi (Polokwane City), Caleb Bimenyimana (Kaizer Chiefs), Chumani Butsaka (Cape Town Spurs), Daniel Cardoso (Sekhukhune United), Edmore Chirambadare (Venda Football Academy), Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Siyabonga Dubula (Pretoria Callies), Kenneth Dupane (Tornado FC), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Revaldo Fox (Dondol Stars), Michael Gumede (AmaZulu), Etiosa Ighodaro (Chippa United), Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC), Mario Katz (Tornado FC), Letsie Koapeng (Marumo Gallants), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Victor Letsoalo (Sekhukhune United), Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy), Bonginkosi Makanya (Mpheni Home Defenders), Katleho Makateng (Richards Bay), Lesego Manganyi (Royal AM), Nkosephayo Mavundla (Mpheni Home Defenders), Tebogo Makungo (Dondol Stars), Yaimil Medina (TS Galaxy), Junior Mendieta (Stellenbosch FC), Gabadinho Mhango (AmaZulu), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United), Relebogile Molefe (Dondol Stars), Kholofelo Monama (Dondol Stars), Therlo Moosa (Cape Town Spurs), Tashreeq Morris (Sekhukhune United), Judas Moseamedi (Marumo Gallants), Sandile Mthethwa (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Nascimento (Royal AM), Siyabonga Nhlapo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Nkosi (Casric Stars), Bongo Ntuli (AmaZulu), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Chippa United), Boitumelo Pheko (Marumo Gallants), Colin Ryan (Cape Town Spurs), Christian Saile (Kaizer Chiefs), Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates), Kamogelo Sebelebele (TS Galaxy), Kagiso Selemela (Magesi FC), Nkateko Shilenge (Mpheni Home Defenders), Vusi Sibiya (Stellenbosch FC), Theko Thakho (FC Blackcross), Tebogo Thangwane (Marumo Gallants), Devon Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Nkanyiso Zungu (Richards Bay)
Own goals – Lee Langeveldt (Stellenbosch FC), Thabo Matlaba (Royal AM), Kamogelo Mogaswa (Pretoria Callies), Bulelani Nikani (Polokwane City)
SOURCED FROM THE NEDBANK CUP WEBSITE.
