Defending champions Marumo Gallants FC advanced to the Nedbank Cup last eight with a penalty shootout victory over Orlando Pirates at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Pirates had the first chance with ten minutes gone. Deon Hotto got forward down the left for Pirates and delivered a low cross on a platter for Zakhele Lepasa but the striker barely made any contact with his attempted side foot finish.
Soon after, Gallants responded. They shifted it around well and it reached Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo some 35 yards out and his shot was a very good effort but Richard Ofori got across to push it away.
Gallants won a penalty in the 20th minute. A lovely flowing attack down the left saw Joseph Molongoane go past Shandu and draw a foul off Jele with the referee pointing to the spot. Ndlondlo stepped up and Ofori went the right way but couldn’t keep it out.
Pirates got an opening to equalise right away. Lepasa was released inside the box but he let his touch get away from him and then collapsed looking for a penalty but the referee told him to get up.
King Ndlovu 🎯
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 9, 2022
Defending champions Marumo Gallants edge Orlando Pirates 5-4 on penalties to book their spot in the last eight of the #NedbankCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/N0FHalqqi1
The Bucanneers equalised on the half-hour mark. Lepasa slipped a clever through ball for Bandile Shandu on the right and he sidefooted past King Ndlovu for his seventh goal of the season.
Soon after half-time, Kwame Peprah drove at the Marumo box and Siya Nhlapo cut him down. Hotto stepped up to strike the resultant freekick which bounced off the post, hit Peprah and was caught by goalkeeper Ndlovu.
In the 66th minute, Gallants put together a good move now. It was shifted from Ndlondlo to Katlego Otladisa but his low effort was straight at Ofori.
The sides could not be separated in regular time and the match went to extra-time. Mabasa came close for Pirates in the 98th minute. He ran onto a loose ball and struck against the crossbar with his left foot.
Dan Malesela's gallant Marumo send Orlando Pirates packing
— Sarang Pokhare (NewsFeed) (@sarang143u) March 9, 2022
on penalties https://t.co/eh3fQNPSMU
Gallants almost stole it with four minutes left of extra-time. They robbed Pirates in a dangerous area and a quick pass sent Molongoane through on goal, who put a weak shot wide of goal.
The sides were still level after 120 minutes and so the match went to penalties. It was a topsy-turvy shootout with the momentum swaying to and fro. Eventually, Terrence Dzvukamanja missed Pirates’ sixth and goalkeeper King Ndlovu made no mistake to be the unlikely match-winner.
