Orlando Pirates continued their pursuit of silverware by booking their place in the Carling Knockout semifinals after edging Sekhukhune United 1-0 in an entertaining quarterfinal clash at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
A 32nd-minute strike by Mpho Padime proved decisive as the Buccaneers overcame their stubborn opponents to move one step closer to defending the Carling Knockout title they won last season.
The victory was another painful setback for Sekhukhune United, who have now suffered four defeats against the Sea Robbers this season across the MTN8 and Betway Premiership competitions.
Pirates had already enjoyed success against Babina Noko in both legs of their MTN8 encounters before completing the league double over the Limpopo-based outfit. Saturday’s result extended their dominance over Sekhukhune, who were unable to find a response after Padime’s first-half breakthrough.
The Buccaneers will now turn their attention to the semifinals, where they will be hoping to maintain their momentum and keep their title defence alive.
Pirates became the second team to secure a place in the last four, joining Mamelodi Sundowns, who booked their passage a week ago after overcoming Golden Arrows.
With a semifinal place at stake, Sekhukhune needed a strong performance to halt Pirates’ dominance, but Padime’s goal ultimately separated the two sides in a closely contested encounter.
Despite being substituted for Oswin Appollis later in the match, Padime had already done enough to leave his mark on the contest.
The Pirates attacker was rewarded for his match-winning contribution after being voted Man of the Match, earning himself R100,000 in prize money.
For the Buccaneers, the result represents another important step in their quest to retain the Carling Knockout crown and deliver more silverware to their supporters.
However, the remaining quarterfinal fixtures will determine which other teams join Pirates and Sundowns in the semifinals as the competition moves closer to its decisive stages.