Makhehlene Makhaula came back to haunt his former club AmaZulu FC as he, Patrick Maswanganyi and Kabelo Dlamini scored to put Orlando Pirates in the semifinal of the Nedbank Cup in a six-goal thriller at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last night.
Makhaula’s goal, the third for Pirates, came seven minutes from time, after Usuthu failed to clear Maswanganyi’s free kick which was pulled back by Monnapule Saleng for Makhaula to beat Veli Mothwa with a powerful shot.
Maswanganyi completed his brace in referee’s optional time as Pirates caught Usuthu’s defence at sixes and sevens when they were trying to find an equaliser.
Pirates looked in danger of being knocked out of the cup they’re defending when AmaZulu took the lead through Pule Ekstein on the half-hour mark.
The Buccaneers had started better and looked the side likely to score as Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng ran rings around the Usuthu defence.
Pirates missed two easy chances by striker Tshegofatso Mabasa before Ekstein, a former Kaizer Chiefs player, broke the deadlock with a swift strike taken just inside the area, as Pirates failed to clear their lines.
Usuthu’s lead lasted just until the stroke of half-time when referee Masixole Bambiso gave Pirates what looked like a very soft penalty after Makhuala was touched by Taariq Fielies inside the area.
Fielies’ “push” on the former Usuthu midfielder looked soft but it was enough to convince Bambiso to point to the spot in favour of the Buccaneers who had the majority support in a match watched by more than 44,000 people.
Usuthu coach Pablo Franko protested against the referee’s decision but it was all in vain. Maswanganyi sent Veli Mothwa the wrong way — much to the delight of Bucs fans who came to this match in great hope after their side beat AmaZulu neighbours Lamontville Golden Arrows 7-1 in a league match in Orlando last Saturday.
Pirates remained the more attacking team after the restart, with Maswanganyi, Mabasa and Mofokeng relentless in their search for more goals. It was through that combination that Mofokeng won a free kick just outside the area.
Dlamini used his sweet left foot to beat a bewildered Mothwa standing still as his strike hit the back of the net in the 58th minute.
Usuthu defender Fielies transformed from villain to a hero when he turned in Abbukaker Mobara’s free kick to give AmaZulu an equaliser in the 64th minute. The goal showed some poor defending by Pirates defence, which missed their regular central pairing of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki, who are both suspended.
Ekstein was unlucky to see his long-range strike hitting the crossbar just a few minutes after Fielies found the equaliser.
Pirates became the third team to make the semis after Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC, who beat SuperSport United 4-0 in Cape Town early on Saturday.
TS Galaxy host Chippa United in Mpumalanga in the last quarterfinal match on Sunday.
