Gamphani Lungu’s astonishing shot inside the area in the last minute of extra-time set Orlando Pirates well on their way to defend the MTN8 trophy they’ve won in the last four years — ousting a spirited 10-man Durban City 2-1 in the first of last 8 matches at Orlando Amstel Arena yesterday.
Lungu had been thrown in as a late substitute and got the winner when it looked like the matter will be settled by a penalty shootout after 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Although there were hardly any signs of the visitors posing any threat to Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team, Pirates started this match sloppy and were very tentative in their attacks. But when they did find their gear there was no stopping the Buccaneers as midfielder Thalente Mbatha was the first to test City’s goalkeeper Fredrick Asare, with his long range thunderbolt sailing just over the bar in the 20th minute.
Pirates should have gone ahead eight minutes later but striker Yanela Mbuthuma was unlucky to see his tap-in missing the upright by a few inches after connecting with a good cross from Maswanganyi.
Maswanganyi, who partnered Mbuthuma in attack, would eventually take the matter into his own hands after Pirates earned a penalty.
Marching orders
City midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel was already on a yellow card when he hacked Tshepang Moremi inside the area after realising his back pass was way too weak to reach his goalkeeper.
Referee Alfred Chavani gave Poggenpoel his marching orders before Maswanganyi sent City’s gloveman the wrong way to give the home side a deserved lead in the 37th minute.
You would have expected the one-man advantage to be a huge boost to Pirates to further dominate the proceedings but, just six minutes into the restart, they found themselves level with City after some shoddy defending allowed Jean Lubumba to cancel Maswanganyi’s goal.
The goal came after City entered the area through their left channel, where former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Gaston Sirino combined with former Bucs right-back Bandile Shandu. Sirino laid a good pass for Lubumba to tap in from inside the penalty area.
With many players still struggling with their match fitness in these early stages of the season, changes were bound to be made.
City mentor Khalil Ben Yousef, the former Chiefs co-coach, pulled off Sirino for Samkelo Maseko just after their goal. Ouaddou responded by strengthening his side with the introduction of Kabelo Kgositsile and Boitumelo Radiopane for Oswin Appollis and Mbuthuma just after the hour mark.
Extra time
The young Kgositsile, one of the players promoted by Pirates this season, was close to restoring the home side’s lead within a few minutes after entering the fray but his header off Camren Dansin cross missed the upright. That was before Asare kept out Moremi’s shot four minutes before the match went to extra time.
The added 30 minutes looked to be yielding no goals until Lungu’s last-gasp winner.
This was despite Pirates bombarding Asare’s goals with attacks. City defended with many numbers against a side which is still finding its feet, especially with new recruits like Lungu, who may take time to fill in the big shoes of the departed stars like Relebohile Mofokeng, the PSL’s Player of the Season and a key playmaker for Pirates in the last two seasons.
Orlando Pirates (1) 2
Durban City (0) 1
Scorers: Pirates - Patrick Maswanganyi (pen -37m), Gamphani Lungu (119m)
City - Jena Lubumba (51m)
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