Orlando Pirates crashed out of the Carling Knockout after losing to Richards Bay FC in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Carling Knockout
Result: Richards Bay 0-0 Orlando Pirates (Richards Bay won 5-4 on penalties)
Date: 04 November 2023
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
The Buccaneers made three changes from their loss against Cape Town Spurs, as Monnapule Saleng, Bandile Shandu and Nkosinathi Sibisi were recalled while Relebohile Mofokeng started from the bench after his trials at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jose Riveiro's charges had spaces to exploit in the early stages and they had time on the ball but they were not decisive in the last third.
However, Saleng came close to breaking the deadlock for the visitors on 26 minutes after he cut in the box unchallenged and curled a shot towards the far post that missed narrowly wide.
Pirates continued to control the game in the latter phase of the first stanza and Saleng had a great chance just before the interval after a through ball by Shandu but his low shot was saved by goalkeeper Philasande Manqele at his near post.
The Buccaneers had another glorious chance on the stroke of halftime after Deon Hotto's toe-poked shot came off the post.
After a slow start in the second stanza, Pirates eventually made a double change on the hour-mark, as Saleng was withdrawn and replaced by Mofokeng for fresh legs and Karim Kimvuidi came on for Kermit Erasmus in a tactical switch.
The Soweto giants had the momentum in the closing stages as they pressurized the Natal Rich Boyz but they could not get clear-cut chances and the game went to extra-time after a goalless draw in regulation time.
Kaitano Tembo's troops were waiting for chances on counter-attacks and Sinethemba Mngomezulu had such an opportunity on the stroke of half-time in extra-time after going through on goal but he fired his shot high and wide.
The sides were cautious in the second period of extra-time time but the Buccaneers had a chance in the last seven minutes with a free-kick from just outside the box but Zakhele Lepasa's effort was saved by Manqele.
In the end the sides could still not be separated in extra-time and went to penalties, where Pirates lost 5-4 on penalties after Hotto's first spot-kick was saved by Manqele and the Natal Rich converted all their spot-kicks, as Simphiwe Mcineka netted the winning penalty.
Here's how they lined up:
Richards Bay: 48. Manqele, 6. Mabaso, 5. Mthethwa, 44. Komane, 72. Mabua, 25. Mcineka, 38. Dlamini, 13. Gumede, 18. Miya, 45. Ntsundwana, 9. Mbuthuma
Subs: 1. Mabokgwane, 24. T.Mthembu, 99. Dube, 20. M.Mthembu, 7. Mohlamme, 21. Mhlongo, 22. Mabuya, 37. Mngomezulu, 8. Mohomi.
Orlando Pirates: 35. Buthelezi, 27. Xoki, 5. Sibisi, 26. Shandu, 7. Hotto, 4. Timm, 28. Maswanganyi, 3. Lorch, 14. Saleng, 95. Erasmus, 17. Makgopa
Subs: 31. Ofori, 49. Ndah, 2. Monyane, 8. Monare, 25. Kimvuidi, 14. Ndlondlo, 12. Otladisa, 38. Mofokeng, 9. Lepasa
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