Tshepang Moremi was the hero once again as Orlando Pirates booked their place in the Carling Knockout Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Richards Bay at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Moremi broke the deadlock just before halftime, drilling home a precise finish after being picked out by a well-weighted pass from Oswin Appollis.
The result sees Pirates reach the final of this competition for the first time in seven years. They will now face the winner between Golden Arrows and Marumo Gallants, who clash at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is yet to confirm the venue for the final, which is scheduled for 6 December.
Although Pirates emerged victorious, it was far from an easy night. The Natl Rich Boys were disciplined and compact, making it difficult for the Buccaneers to find space. Bay was sharp in intercepting loose balls and neutralizing potential threats, showing their determination to cause an upset against a Pirates side that has already lifted the MTN8 trophy this season.
Richards Bay co-coaches Ronnie Gabriel, Siboniso Gumede, and Papi Zothwane — who won this cup last season with Magesi — opted for an attacking setup, pairing Gabadinho Mhango and Knox Mutizwa up front in an attempt to unsettle the Pirates defense.
However, Pirates dominated possession and territory, frequently camping in Bay’s half. Sipho Mbule had an early effort on the turn, but goalkeeper Ian Otieno dealt with it comfortably. Most of Pirates’ attempts came from long range, rarely troubling Otieno.
Their persistence finally paid off when Appollis floated a clever pass behind Bay’s defense, allowing Moremi to peel away from his marker and fire low into the far corner — sending the crowd into wild celebration.
The goal sparked memories of Pirates’ previous near misses in this competition. They last reached the final in the 2018/19 season, when they lost to Baroka FC on penalties at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Pirates also finished runners-up in 2013/14, losing to Platinum Stars at the same Durban venue.
Their most recent triumph in this cup dates back to the 2011/12 season — also at Moses Mabhida Stadium — when they defeated Bidvest Wits.
Looking to add more gloss to the scoreline, coach Abdelsam Ouaddou introduced Relebohile Mofokeng and Thabiso Lebitso for Van Rooyen and Mbule. Mofokeng injected energy and flair into the attack, thrilling the fans with his silky touches and flicks.
The KwaZulu-Natal club pushed hard in search of an equalizer, but clear-cut chances were few and far between as Pirates held firm to secure a place in the final. Bay has now been defeated in the past three semi-finals, and in all, it has seen those opponents win the League Cup.
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