Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained he took Kermit Erasmus off at half-time because he had picked up a knock in the first 45 minutes.
The Buccaneers needed extra-time to overcome a resilient Venda Football Academy at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Pirates scored the opener through Erasmus, who started a match for the first time in five games, converting a header from an inch-perfect Deon Hotto cross.
However, Venda Football Academy equalised just after the break via Edmore Chirambadare after a mistake by Hotto, with the match heading into extra-time, where Thembinkosi Lorch found a late winner for his side.
Erasmus, though, had to be taken off at half-time, with many wondering why he was replaced by Terrence Dzvukamanja despite scoring.
After the match, Riveiro explained that the striker had picked up a knock in the first interval.
“Kermit had a problem early in the first half,” the Spaniard told SuperSport TV.
“He tried to manage it during the first 45 minutes but it was too much.
“So we didn’t want to make it worse and take any risk with him. That’s why we switched.”
Pirates joined Mamelodi Sundowns, Dondol Stars, Sekhukhune United, Royal AM and Chippa United in the last eight of the Nedbank Cup.
