Marumo Gallants have qualified for the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals after beating Orlando Pirates 5-4 in a penalty shootout at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening. It had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
After a string of missed penalties, Gallants goalkeeper King Ndlovu was the hero as he scored the sudden-death penalty that ended Pirates’ cup run, and gave Dan Malesela’s a first ever win over Pirates.
Marumo Gallants 1-1 AET Orlando Pirates – Gallants win 5-4 on penalties
Kwame Peprah’s header in the fifth minute was off target, as the visitors did the early pressing. Zakhele Lepasa should have scored in the tenth minute and will be disappointed to shot have wide with the goal beckoning.
Richard Ofori, back in the Pirates goal, had to be alert to deny Philip Ndlondlo’s long-range attempt in the 15th minute. Moments later Gallants should have had a penalty after the ball struck Peprah’s hand in the box, but the referee did not award it.
However, Gallants did get a penalty moments later, after a foul by Happy Jele in the box. Ndlondo stepped up and made no mistake to make it 1-0 to Gallants in the 20th minute.
But Pirates found an equaliser in the 30th minute, as Bandile Shandu continued to his good goal-scoring form, getting behind the defence and slotting past King Ndlovu to make it 1-1.
Level at the break, Deon Hotto went close in the 48th minute, but his shot hit the woodwork, and Peprah’s rebound was saved by Ndlovu. Ndlondo’s free-kick just after the hour mark was straight at Ofori, as was Katlego Otladisa’s attempt in the 65th minute.
Ndlovu was called into action at the other end, as he saved substitute Thembinkosi Lorch’s attempt in the 70th minute. Gallants had another call for a penalty overruled with fifteen minutes to go.
Pirates may have been seeing more of the ball, but it was end-to-end action, and Ndlondlo shot wide in the 85th minute.
Joseph Malongoane’s effort from the edge of the area in the 90th minute didn’t cause Ofori any problems, and extra time was needed.
Tshegofatso Mabasa, who came off the bench, went close in the 8th minute of extra time, but his powerful effort struck the crossbar and went over, and it remained 1-1 after halftime in extra-time.
Gallants had a great chance in the 115th minute, after a defensive error gifted Malongoane the ball, but he was off target with a goal beckoning.
Ndlondlo went close from a free kick in the 118th minute, but Ofori was able to tip it over.
With no winner after 120 minutes of football, it was the penalty shootout that decided the victor.
A disappointing exit for Pirates, who at one point led the shoot-out 4-2, before Olisa Ndah blasted over.
Gallants continue their excellent start to 2022.
