Telkom Knockout Semi-Final
Result: Kaizer Chiefs (Castro 18') 1-2 (Lorch 13, Shonga 84') Orlando Pirates
Date: 24 November 2018
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Click through the gallery to see the images from the Soweto derby in Durban.
Kaizer Chiefs' wait for silverware goes on as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.
Giovanni Solinas handed starts to Lebohang Manyama and George Maluleka, while Musa Nyatama replaced Ben Motshwari for the Buccaneers.
Amakhosi left-back Godfrey Walusimbi nearly caught Bucs goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane off guard after just seven minutes with a teasing cross from the left that shot-stopper parried into the far post but luckily the were no Chiefs players lurking.
Five minutes later, Thembinkosi Lorch sensationally opened the scoring for Pirates with a first time side-footed shot into the top corner following a defence-splitting pass from Vincent Pule, 0-1.
The lead didn't last that long as Leonardo Castro brought Amakhosi level in the 18th minute with a close range finish after a mix-up in the pirates defence.
Chiefs were absorbing the pressure after half-an-hour while Bucs were probing to restore their lead, although neither side could find a second goal,
As a result, both goalkeepers were largely untested as the sides went into the break all square.
Ten minutes into the second half, Xolani Mlambo almost gave Bucs the lead ten minutes into the second stanza with a long range strike that clipped the top of the crossbar.
Justin Shonga only needed a touch at the back post to give Pirates the lead on the hour-mark after Pule dribbled past defenders at the near post and sent in a cross but the Zambian arrived seconds late.
The game was on the edge 20 minutes before time with the sides going at each other although Bucs had the attacking initiative, whle the likes of Augustine Mulenga and Bernard Parker were introduced for Pirates and Chiefs respectively.
However it was who Shonga snatched the lead for Milutin Sredojevic’s charges six minutes before time with a low strike after he was picked out by Mulenga.
Siyabonga Ngezana was lucky not to be sent off for Chiefs three minutes before time after replay showed the defender elbowing Shonga in off the ball incident.
Chiefs nearly sent the match into extra-time but Mabokgwane was well positioned to keep a goal-bound header off the line as Pirates advanced to the final.
Here's how they lined up:
Chiefs: 32. Khune, 2. Mphahlele, 30. Ngezana, 5. Booysen, 39. Walusimbi, 31. Katsande, 12. Maluleka (Andrianarimanana 91'), 21. Manyama (Parker 68'), 11. Billiat, 29. Zuma (Mahlasela 87'), 8. Castro.
Subs: 16. Vries, 25. Parker, 4. Cardoso, 17. Mahlasela, 22. Zulu, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 6. Andrianarimanana.
Pirates: 16. Mabokgwane, 4. Jele, 33. Munetsi, 37. Mbekile, 23. Maela, 14. Nyatama, 20. Mlambo, 45. Pule (Makola 91'), 3. Lorch (Marcelo 94'), 12. Shonga. 24. Kutumela (Mulenga 67').
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 36. Da Silva, 45. Mobara, 5. Makola, 32. Mntambo, 15. Qalinge, 17. Mulenga.
