Telkom Knockout – Round 1 – Report
Thanda Royal Zulu 0 Orlando Pirates 1
Click here for highlights from the game.
(Delivered by www.psl.co.za)
DURBAN, October 26 (Telkom Knockout) – Lebogang Mothibantwa scored the only goal as Orlando Pirates moved into the quarter-final of the Telkom Knockout with a 1-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu on Sunday.
After struggling for the entire season the Buccaneers finally delivered a positive result alongside their dominant performance with the solo strike coming after 66 minutes against a lacklustre Thanda.
The game started a lively pace at the Princess Magogo Stadium, with the hosts boosted by the return of captain Bernard Parker and midfielder Felix Obada, both doubtful after they were away on trials in Sweden.
Their side almost took the lead after three minutes when good interplay between Obada and Nkosinathi Nhleko led to the latter blasting his 25-yard shot inches over.
The visitors hit back in the 17th minute when pressure from Gilbert Mushangazhike in the penalty area saw the ball eventually fall to Teko Modise, but his headed effort was easily gathered by Aubrey Mathibe.
Shortly after, Modise’s 20-yard free-kick drew a neat save from the Thanda goalkeeper as Pirates looked more threatening early on.
Thulasizwe Mbuyane was next to come close just after the half-hour mark when his mazy run down the right ended with Ahmed Mohammed thumping the ball clear.
The Buccaneers midfielder then missed the best chance of the half three minutes before the break after Dikgang Mabalane raced down the left and delivered a teasing cross for Mbuyane, who could only miss-hit his eventual shot.
After the restart, Rudi Krol’s team upped the pressure with Mushangazhike putting his free header wide after a cross from Mabalane.
Seconds later the Pirates midfield picked up on sloppy play from the home side, again releasing the Zimbabwean down the right but his final cross was poor.
Thanda were living on the edge at this stage with James Madidilani handed a reprieve when the referee failed to spot a hand ball in the penalty area.
Mbuyane again caused problems on the hour mark by cutting inside on the left and unleashing a low shot that had to be punched away Mathibe.
But the Thanda custodian could do nothing to stop the goal when suicidal defending saw his backline fail to clear the danger and the ball fell to Mushangazhike, who looked to be off-side, to lay the ball for Mothibantwa to arrow his shot from just inside the penalty area into the right corner.
Brave defending from Rooi Mahamutsa then denied July Mahlangu as he saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area blocked by the defender.
Five minutes before the end Mohammed should have done better with an Obada corner, but instead headed over as time ran out for Thanda.
In fact, Pirates should have doubled their advantage before full time with both Mushangazhike and substitute Bennett Chenene screwing their shots wide as the visitors held out for a narrow win.