Pirates sink Supersport to reach semis

| Monday November 8, 2010 00:00

A first-half goal from Lucky Lekgwathi and further strikes from Rooi Mahamutsa and Chiukepo Msowoya in the second half proved to be the undoing of SuperSport. This contest, that attracted just over 10 000 spectators, was billed as the clash of this weekend and those fans in attendance would have not been too disappointed with the football on display.

Pirates had a perfect opportunity to hit the front as early as the sixth minute when former SuperSport player Daine Klate earned a penalty kick for the Buccaneers when his attempted strike on goals crashed onto the hand of Keeno Shellar.

But the diminutive left-sided midfielder had his penalty attempt blocked by Wayne Brown, SuperSport's goalkeeper. Klate would have let out a huge sigh of relief in the ninth minute when his in-swinging corner was headed powerfully by Lekgwathi.

Though Pirates were more dominant in the first half, SuperSport looked for a push forward whenever they gained possession. In the 21st minute SuperSport striker Lemessa Fikru showed his potency in the air when he headed Morgan Gould's long throw-in, just wide of the target. The home side went even closer, just over ten minutes later when Pirates defender Mahamutsa deflected Jabu Maluleke's thumping right-footed volley onto his own crossbar.From another quick break Just before the half-time interval, SuperSport's Dipsy Selowane forced Moneeb Josephs  Pirates keeper  to parry his low drive from distance to safety.

As expected, SuperSport upped their efforts from the start of the second half, attempting to restore parity. But it was Pirates that forged further ahead when they struck during a corner kick in the 58th minute.

Bucs' Dikang Mabalane swung the ball from the corner spot to an unmarked Mahamutsa who was positioned at the back post, the burly defender's powerful header crashed into the roof of SuperSport's goals.

The Buccaneers added the third goal via a classic counter attacking move. Striker Msowoya collected a defensive punt in the 64th minute and played out wide to Klate. The midfielder played the ball back into the path of Msowoya who unleashed a well struck shot that had the beating of Brown.

Try as they like, SuperSport were not able to break down a resolute Pirates defence.

Supersport United (0)_Orlando Pirates (1) 3 (Lekgwathi 9', Mahamutsa 58', Msowoya 64')

SuperSport: Brown, Shellar, Gould, Katza, Cranell, Langerman, Ntshumayelo, Madubanya (Laffor 46'), Maluleke, Selolwane (Bulu 60'), Fikru

Pirates: Josephs, Jele, Mahumutsa, Johannes, Lekgwathi, Mabalane, Ngobeni, Jali, Klate (Segolela 66'), Mbuyane, Msowoya (Malokase 80').