Pirates vs Marumo Gallants

Marumo Gallants struck another nail in Orlando Pirates' coffin as the Limpopo club dumped the Soweto giants out of the Nedbank Cup.

The bright start to the half dried up in the later stages as the two teams huffed and puffed for the lead. Pirates used that to their advantage as they found the equaliser soon thereafter. They came out of the blocks as well, and were unfortunate not to find the lead after Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s weighted strike was parried away by Richard Ofori.

The Buccaneers made four changes to the side that lost to Kaizer Chiefs, as goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Goodman Mosele Happy Jele and Zakhele Lepasa were handed ...

With both sides struggling in extra-time, Lerato Lamola should have restored the lead for Dan Malesela's charges in the last five minutes after going through on goal one-on-one with Ofori but he side-footed his shot just wide, while Ofori had to keep out a dipping free-kick by Ndlondo to send the game to penalties. Pirates were on the front foot from the break and Hotto was unfortunate not give them the lead three minutes in with a curling free-kick from the edge of the box that rattled the post. However, the game was there for the taking in the closing stages, with both sides threatening on transitions but neither had clear chances and extra-time was required after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The Soweto giants continued to pin back Gallants in their own half, creating chances but they were not decisive and with 20 minutes left they brought on Thembinkosi Lorch in place of Kwame Peprah in a tactical move upfront. It was Gallants who secured victory via the penalties after Ndlovu saved Dzkukamanja's spot-kick in sudden death to keep their Nedbank Cup defence going Gallants grew in confidence and were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute after Joseph Malongoane went down from a challenge by Jele, which allowed Ndabayithethwa Ndlondo to break the deadlock with a low strike that Ofori could only parry into the back of the net. Pirates had a big chance to go ahead in the tenth minute from a quick transition after a cross by Deon Hotto found Lepasa unmarked in the box but he miscued his shot wide. The visitors had a quick response, as the in-form Bandile Shandu levelled matters ten minutes later with a side-footed finish past goalkeeper King Ndlovu at his near post after going through on goal from Lepasa's pass on the blind-side. Orlando Pirates crashed out of the Nedbank Cup at the last 16 stage after losing to holders Marumo Gallants on penalties. The Buccaneers made four changes to the side that lost to Kaizer Chiefs, as goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Goodman Mosele Happy Jele and Zakhele Lepasa were handed starts. Result: Marumo Gallants 1-1 Orlando Pirates (Gallants won 5-4 on penalties)

Orlando Pirates suffered a second successive humiliating defeat when they were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup by holders Marumo Gallants on penalties at ...

Pirates levelled matters through Shandu, scoring his seventh of the season in all competitions, in the 30th minute. Pirates survived a penalty shout when the ball touched Peprah's hand around the quarter hour-mark. Before yesterday, Ghana's No.1 had not played since featuring in the second league game of the season against the same side in August.