By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates secured their spot in the last eight of the Carling Knockout after defeating Siwelele FC 1-0 at Orlando Stadium, Soweto on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates made only one change to the starting side that defeated TS Galaxy 2-0 on Tuesday, with Oswin Appolis returning to replace Kamogelo Sebelebele.
Siwelele made six changes to their side that ended a seven-game winless streak on Sunday, including at goalkeeper, with Samkelo Xulu coming in form Ricardo Goss.
Pirates were awarded a penalty in the third minute as Keabetswe Khonyane brought Evidence Makgopa down in the Siwelele box. The striker missed the opportunity to bag his second penalty goal in as many games, hitting the right-hand upright.
In the 26th minute, Pirates broke on the counter with Appolis, who found Relebohile Mofokeng down the right side of the pitch. However, the youngster’s cross could not find any of his teammates arriving in the box.
In the 41st minute, Makgopa spotted the run of Tshepang Moremi into the box, finding him with a perfectly weighted pass, but the winger’s effort went wide of the target, squandering another great chance to take the lead.
While Pirates continued their dominance and search for a goal, they were wasteful in the final third and went into the half-time break deadlocked at goalless.
In the second half, Pirates maintained their dominance and came close to finding the back of the net through Abdoulaye Mariko, who came on at halftime. However, his attempt went straight to Siwelele’s goalkeeper, Xulu.
In the 52nd minute, Moremi’s cross was spilt by Xulu, but the goalkeeper managed to recover the ball before any Pirates players could reach it.
The visitors had a chase on the counter attack in the 73rd minute through substitute Chibuike Ohizu, who found himself one-on-one with Mbekezeli Mbokazi, but could not beat the defender in the Pirates box.
The tempo of the match dropped in the closing stages of the game, with the possibility of extra time fast approaching as the two sides struggled to score.
Pirates finally broke the deadlock in the 87th minute through the unlikeliest of scorers, as Mbokazi unleashed a rocket from distance, finding the top right corner with a spectacular strike.