Pirates sail past Santos

Goals from Lennox Bacela and Rooi Mahamutsa secured a 2-0 win for Orlando Pirates as the Buccaneers progress to the final eight at the expense of National First Division side Santos.

The game was played at the Athlone Stadium on Friday night.

In notable team news, Nasief Morris missed out due to suspension while Tyren Arendse faces his former employers.

Meanwhile, Tlou Segolela and Thabo Matlaba returned to the starting XI for the Buccaneers while Lennox Bacela continued to spearhead the attack.

Clear cut chances were few and far between in the opening half with Orlando Pirates dominating proceedings but finding it difficult to break down a well-organized Santos backline.

Sachin Dawood went close for the visitors against the run of play in the 14^th minute.

The Santos defender out-jumped Lucky Lekgwathi but could only manage to direct his header over Senzo Meyiwa’s crossbar from close range.

Pirates were awarded a penalty just before the half-hour mark after Dawood brought down Segolela inside the area.

Bacela stepped up to the spot and coolly placed the ball past a wrong footed Pa Dembo Touray in goal.

Despite the Buccaneers dominance they rarely tested the People Teams skipper in the opening stanza while Senzo Meyiwa at the other end of the pitch was virtually unemployed as the teams headed for the tunnel.

Santos 0-1 Orlando Pirates at the break.

Mahamutsa doubled the Sea Robbers lead in the 65^th minute, heading past Touray from a Mpho Makola corner-kick following a sustained period of pressure.

Pirates saw out the game with relative ease despite the fact that David Radebe missed a spot-kick in stoppage time,  as they booked their place in the final eight, subsequently staying on course to play in their fourth final this campaign.

Santos (0) 0

Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Bacela 29’ Mahamutsa 65’)

Santos: Touray; Mdaki, Jampies, Nyambi, Skippers, Williams (Lakay 46’), Pantsil, Dawood, Arendse, Mabua (Radebe 59’), Sitayitayi (Allie 77’)

Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa; Nyauza , Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Matlaba, Masuku (Myeni 46’), Manyisa, Ntshumayelo (Maselesa 85’), Segolela, Makola, Bacela (Pelembe 72’)

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