Thembinkosi Lorch scored on his return for Orlando Pirates, who defeated All Stars FC 2-0 in the Nedbank Cup last 32 on Saturday night.
Nedbank Cup
Result: All Stars 0-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 11 February 2023
Venue: Wits Football Stadium
Pirates handed first starts to Craig Martin and Sandile Mthethwa, while Thembinkosi Lorch featured on the bench for the first time since August along with new signings Marou Souaibou and Makhehlene Makhaula.
In wet conditions underfoot, the Buccaneers could not get going and had a casualty on five minutes after Goodman Mosele picked up an injury and was replaced by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo after he was stretchered off the pitch.
All Stars were getting stuck-in early in the game, as they had a good resistance in their last third and had the ability to combine going forward, looking to combine with striker Justice Figuareido.
Jose Riveiro's charges only began to have a sustained pressure on their hosts towards the half-hour mark and Mthethwa found the back of the net six minutes before the break after he bundled a cross by Monnapule Saleng from close-range but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Sinethemba Badela's men were not just sitting back and had pace on transitions as Tshepo Mofokeng was sent through on goal on the stroke of half-time but Tapelo Xoki made a crucial tackle to deny him a one-on-one chance with goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
Riveiro made a tactical change at halftime as Lorch came on for Kabelo Dlamini and the Buccaneers had more impetus going forward as ten minutes later, Terrence Dzvukamanja unleashed a threatening shot that came off the post.
Pirates' pressure eventually paid off shortly after the hour-mark after Saleng broke the deadlock with an improvised right-footed hooked shot after a scramble in the box.
The visitors had to finish the game without their head coach after Riveiro was sent off by the referee in the 66th minute.
The Soweto giants remained on the front foot and Lorch put the game to bed 19 minutes before time with a low cracking shot in the box after he reacted the quickest to a ricochet in the box.
Pirates gave Makhaula his debut off the bench in the last five minutes in place of Miguel Timm to shore up the midfield, as the Buccaneers ran down the clock by keeping possession, as they booked their spot in the last 16.
All Stars: A. Mtshali, Komane, Modise, L.Mtshali, Makobela, Nyembe, Baartman, Mofokeng, Sesane, Figuareido, Baloni
Subs: Peters, Mothibedi, Nkwanyana, Mphuthi, Hoala, Jesse, Makgalwa, Thopola, Ndwandwe
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Mthethwa, Mako, Timm, Mosele, Martin, Hotto, Dlamini, Saleng, Dzvukamanja
Subs: Mpontshane, Erasmus, Pule, Makhaula, Marou, Monare, Ndlondlo, Lorch, Monyane
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