Orlando Pirates cruised to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 with a 6-0 thrashing of Crystal Lake at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Nedbank Cup Last 32
Result: Crystal Lake 0-6 Orlando Pirates
Date: 24 February 2024
Venue: Mbombela Stadium
Pirates made three changes to the side that drew with Mamelodi Sundowns, as Karim Kimvuidi, Relebohile Mofokeng were recalled while Thalente Mbatha was handed his debut. Monnapule Saleng was not in the squad.
The Buccaneers had a perfect start after they went ahead within the first four minutes after a flicked header by Olisa Ndah from a corner deflected off Adam Khumalo and found the back of the net.
Tapelo Xoki doubled the lead for Jose Riveiro's charges just four minutes later from the penalty spot after Evidence Makgopa was brought down in the box.
The visitors were 3-0 up on 11 minutes after Mofokeng found the back of the net with a clinical shot from a tight angle in the box.
The Soweto giants continued to threaten and Patrick Maswanganyi made it 4-0 just after the half-hour mark after he got on the end of a cross by Mofokeng
Riveiro's men continued where they left off coming from the break, as just six minutes into the second stanza, Xoki grabbed the fifth goal and completed his brace with a header from a corner.
The Spanish coach eventually brought on the fresh legs shortly after the hour-mark, as Tshegofatso Mabasa, Lesedi Kapinga and Vincent Pule all came on.
Pirates lost concentration at the back with 21 minutes remaining after Teboho Mashego broke clear on goal but could not get the consolation goal for Crystal after he rounded goalkeeper Sipho Chaine but fired his shot wide.
With the game opening up, Mabasa added his name to the score-sheet for Pirates in the last ten minutes with a header at the near post from a corner by Kapinga.
Crystal were threatening on break attacks as they had another big one-on-one chance in the dying minutes but Chaine made a great save, as the Buccaneers cruised to the round of 16.
Here's how they lined up:
Crystal Lake: Mkhonto, Ngobeni, Khumalo, Mhlanga, Thethe, Nkuna, Ndlovu, Mashego, Khoza, Mathebula, Silaule
Subs: Mabunda, Sambo, Khosa, Nkuna, Mnisi, N. Mathebula, Manana, Mathebula, Shongwe
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Monyane, Xoki, Ndah, Maela, Makhaula, Thalente, Kimvuidi, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Pule, Lebitso, Kapinga, Mabasa, Ndlondlo, Monare, Hotto, Sibisi
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