Orlando Pirates produced a dominant display against Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout semifinals to emerge 1-0 victors at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, November 8.
Tshepang Moremi’s 42nd-minute goal settled the contest as Abdeslam Ouaddou guided his team to a second final in the space of three months after winning the MTN 8 title in September.
Richards Bay had never contested a cup final in their eight-year history, while the Sea Robbers were looking to reach their ninth final in six years which yielded no less than seven trophies.
The visitors bossed proceedings in Durban and they made a bright start, winning a series of corners before Mbekezile Mbokazi headed wide from the last of those set-pieces on six minutes.
Pirates kept piling on the pressure, with Sipho Mbule hitting a first-time shot straight at Ian Otieno in the 12th minute and Yanela Mbuthuma also testing the Kenyan goalkeeper on 18 minutes.
Mbuthuma threatened again moments later when he got on the end of Mbule’s cross to poke the ball just wide of the target, while Oswin Appollis also drew a save out of Otieno towards the end of the first half following a driving run through the middle,
The Soweto giants finally made the breakthrough on 42 minutes as Moremi latched onto a fine long ball from Appollis and took one touch before drilling his shot across Otieno into the bottom right corner of the net.
Ronnie Gabriel’s side offered very little in attack, although they did come close to equalising in the opening minute of the second half when Lundi Mahala flashed a shot narrowly wide of the post.
Pirates continued to push for more goals and Moremi miscued an effort from the edge of the box on 52 minutes before Otieno was well placed to deny Thalente Mbatha from range a minute later.
Moremi almost scored again 11 minutes from time after being played into space, but Otieno pulled off a superb save at full stretch to prevent the striker from scoring a second goal.
Richards Bay 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Moremi 42′)
RICHARDS BAY: I. Otieno, L. Mabuya, S. Mcineka, T. Mabua, S. Mntungwa, L. Zikhali, M. Mthembu (W. Ngema 83′), S. Zulu, M. Thikazi (N. Mbulelo 34′), G. Mhango (L. Mahala 46′), K. Mutizwa.
ORLANDO PIRATES: S. Chaine, D. van Rooyen (T. Lebitso 58′), N. Sibisi, M. Mbokazi, N. Ndaba (D. Hotto 68′), S. Mbule (R. Mofokeng 58′), T. Mbatha, M. Nemtajela (C. Dansin 76′), O. Appollis, Y. Mbuthuma (S. Kwayiba 68′), T. Moremi.
