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Defending Carling Cup champs dumped out as Pirates advance

rugby28 October 2025 19:20| © Backpage TXT
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Orlando Pirates were made to sweat for a 2-1 victory over a stubborn Magesi FC side in the Carling Knockout quarterfinal match played at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

As a result, the Buccaneers joined Richards Bay and Golden Arrows in the semifinals of the South African League Cup.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and his charges will next turn their attention to Saturday's Betway Premiership blockbuster clash against Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane.

Dikwena Tsa Meetse, on the other hand, saw their defence of the Carling Knockout trophy come to an end after losing to the 2011 winners.

Coach John Maduka's wounded Magesi side will travel to Rustenburg, where they are scheduled to lock horns with Orbit College in the Betway Premiership match.

It was the Buccaneers versus goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze from the first minute in Soweto.

The Zimbabwe international frustrated Pirates in the first half by producing six great saves to deny the likes of Patrick Maswanganyi, Masindi Nemtajela and Yanela Mbuthuma, who also hit the crossbar.

The pick of the bunch of saves made by Chipezeze came in the 33rd minute. Tshepang Moremi delivered a wonderful cross for Mbuthuma, whose powerful header from point-blank range was fantastically saved by Chipezeze and the score was 0-0 during the halftime break.

Chipezeze, who is the reigning Carling Knockout Player of the Tournament, was finally beaten six minutes into the second half. 

It took something special to beat the experienced shot-stopper as Moremi hit the back of the net with a thunderous shot from just outside the box, which sailed into the top corner to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Inspired substitute Evidence Makgopa made it 2-0 in the 87th minute when he beat Chipezeze with a low shot, with Maswanganyi providing the assist.

The hosts then went to sleep in stoppage time and Magesi pulled one back through Lehlogonolo Mokone, but Pirates held on to secure a 2-1 win on the night.

Pirates 2 (Moremi 51', Makgopa 87')

Magesi 1 (Mokone 90'+5)

Pirates: Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Lebitso, Ndaba (Hotto 79'), Dansin (Mbule 78'), Nemtajela, Maswanganyi, Appollis (Dlamini 78'), Moremi (Sebelebele 90'+1), Mbuthuma (Makgoba 68')

Magesi: Chipezeze, Mashigo, L.Mokone, Makgoga, J.Mokone, Zungu (Darpoh 62'), Mtshali (Mariba 84'), Sibanyoni (Mahlasela 84'), Chirambadare (Vandala 73'), Mosadi, Seseane (Makhubu 62')

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