Orlando Pirates have crashed out of the Carling Knockout after losing 3-2 to new boys Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Carling Knockout
Result: Orlando Pirates 2-3 Magesi FC
Date: 19 October 2024
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Pirates made six changes from the MTN8 final win over Stellenbosch, as Tshegofatso Mabasa, Relebohile Mofokeng, Deano van Rooyen, Kabelo Dlamini, Karim Kimvuidi and Selaelo Rasebotja were brought in.
The Buccaneers had a bright start as within the first eight minutes, Mabasa almost opened the scoring with a header in the six-yard box that missed narrowly wide after a cross by Van Rooyen.
Jose Riveiro's charges remained on the front foot and after 20 minutes Kimvuidi had a chance with a volley on the edge of the box that was saved by goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
Magesi absorbed the pressure and with their first counter-attack just after the half-hour mark, Delano Abrahams broke the deadlock with a free header at the back post from a cross by Tshepo Mashigo.
Clinton Larsen's men had another transition attack six minutes before the break and went 2-0 up as Tshepo Kakora's cross at the back post deflected off Thabiso Sesane.
Dikwena had their tails up and took a shock 3-0 lead on the stroke of half-time through Edmore Chirambadare from a rebound, after his penalty was saved by shot-stopper Sipho Chaine.
The Buccaneers, however, were not putting Magesi under enough pressure and on the hour-mark, the Spanish coach eventually brought on Patrick Maswanganyi and Evidence Makgopa.
Pirates showed more sense of urgency as a few minutes later Mabasa came close to getting a goal back with a strike that came off the crossbar after a through ball in the box.
The Soweto giants camped inside Magesi's half in the closing stages and four minutes before time Dlamini eventually reduced the deficit with a cracking low strike.
The hosts were spirited and with two minutes left, they got another goal back after a strike by Makgopa took a deflection and wrong-footed Chipezeze.
There was drama in added time after Pirates found the back of the net but the goal was disallowed for offside, as the Buccaneers crashed out of the tournament.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Rasebotja, Dlamini, Kimvuidi, Mofokeng, Saleng, Mabasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Maela, Monyane, Ndlondlo, Maswanganyi, Nkota, Moleleki, Gilberto, Makgopa
Magesi: Chipezeze, Mashigo, Darpoh, Mzava, Mokone, Mekoa, Mokone, Charimbandare, Abrahams, Kokora, Makhubu.
Subs: Mpandle, Mokhele, Sekgota, Buthelezi, Manzini, Ndwandwe, Rademeyer, Masegela, Matima
