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Orlando Pirates secured their spot in the final of the MTN8 with a 3-0 victory in the deciding leg of their MTN8 semifinal showdown against Sekhukhune United at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
With the victory, the Buccaneers made history by becoming the first-ever club to reach the final of the competition on five consecutive occasions. They did so by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over Babina Noko, after the 1-0 triumph in the opening leg gave them a slight advantage.
Having arrived in their home leg with one foot in the final, Pirates were made to toil for their opener as chances came far and few between in the opening quarter, save for early opportunities for Oswin Appollis and Yanela Mbuthuma who both went close but could not convert inside the first five minutes. Defender Sbangani Zulu was the next Bucs player to have a close shout, but his 25th minute header from a corner was directed off target.
The attacking momentum continued to favour the home side with Gamphani Lungu and Simphiwe Selepe both getting close but not succeeding in finding the opener. Sekhukhune also had some bright moments of their own as Mpho Rammala fired wide in the 33rd minute.
The deadlock only lasted until the 36th minute as Pirates eventually found the breakthrough with the break looming. It came through a counter, played towards Yanela Mbuthuma who showed a clean pair of heels on the left flank before laying the ball for Thapelo Mokobodi who made no mistake in finishing from close range.
Pirates did not have to wait much longer for their second as Mbuthuma played a central role again when he collected a pass from Appollis before calmly setting up Lungu, who had some work to do before firing in for the second of the afternoon with just six minutes remaining before the break.
The Bucs striker began the second half similarly to how he finished off the first, emerging in the middle of another chance as he forced a save off Nsabata with an effort from a tight angle. Shot-stopper Sipho Chaine was also required to keep the threat at the opposite end at bay as he pulled off a stop of his own in the 55th minute to preserve the home side’s lead.
It was the visitors who looked to make the most of their momentum this time around as the Pirates goal was placed under siege for much of the early part of the second period, with Chaine having to deal with a number of balls delivered into his box. Zulu also chipped in with an excellent stop of his own, denying Bright Ndlovu in the 70th minute with the visitors almost sniffing their first goal of the tie.
The early advantage over two legs however gave the hosts a bit of freedom to control proceedings and they did just that in taking hold of the contest towards the finish with some clear daylight between the two sides. Their say in the contest was however not finished, as they placed the result way beyond doubt with one of the last actions of the game.
The enterprising football that has become synonymous with the Buccaneers was in full flow in the build-up to their third, with replacement winger Tshepang Moremi setting up Kamogelo Sebelebele for a finish from inside the box to take the aggregate score to four goals to nil.
There wasn’t much that the visitors could do to influence the tie from there on, with Pirates not finding much trouble in hanging on for victory as they booked their spot in the final. They now await the winner of the tie between Mamelodi Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrows, with the second of the two remaining berths set to be decided on Sunday afternoon.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema (Chabatsane 62’), Zulu, Sebelebele, Ndaba, Selepe (Masilela 74’), Mthiyane, Mokobodi, Lungu (Padime 84’), Appollis (Moremi 74’), Mbuthuma (Radiopane 62’).
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.