Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards advance to Nedbank Cup quarterfinals

Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards advanced to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday. Pirates beat Matitzburg United 3-1 while Lidoda Duvha advanced after a slender 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Thohoyandou earlier in the day.

This was the second win in a row for the struggling Venda-based side after they beat the high-flying Golden Arrows in Durban on Tuesday.

The relegation-threatened Leopards should now turn their attention to the DSTV Premiership. The first half ended without producing a goal.

Leopards continued pressing forward and they were rewarded early in the second half with a goal from Ghanaian forward Mohammed Anas – his third goal in two matches for Lidoda Duvha.

Black Leopards have now joined Cape Town All Stars and TTM in the Last 8.

? | MAN OF THE MATCH

Kenneth Nthatheni #HashaMulilo #LidodaDuvha pic.twitter.com/GTg2KNDpAe

— Black Leopards FC (@lidodaduvha) February 27, 2021

Maritzburg were the first to open the scoring when Thabiso Kutumela found the back of the net on the 9th minute. However, Pirates returned from the break with a much-improved attitude. It wasn’t long before Kabelo Dlamini levelled matters with an assist from Deon Hotto.

A minute later, Hotto took matters into his own hands putting Bucs in the lead. With 12 minutes to time, Pirates star, Vincent Pule put matters to rest when he beat Maritzburg United Keeper, Marcel Engelhardt from close range.

☠ FT || @MaritzburgUtd 1 – 3 @orlandopirates
? 56′ Dlamini
? 57′ Hotto
? 78′ Pule
⚫⚪?⭐#NedbankCup2021 #Matchday#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/G1wh4nPytf

— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) February 27, 2021

On Sunday, three more quarterfinal spots will be up for grabs when Pretoria Callies take on JDR Stars, TS Sporting face off against giant-killers Richards Bay, while Chippa United will look to prevail over Cape Town City.