Photo Credit - Kaizer Chiefs Media.
Orlando Pirates will have to navigate past Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Marumo Gallants in the semi-final if they are to keep alive their hopes of defending the Nedbank Cup this season while Kaizer Chiefs will face either Mamelodi Sundowns or Sekhukhune United in the last four.
According to the draw conducted on Sunday, the Buccaneers, who have only two games to defend the trophy, an unprecedented feat in the PSL era, will face Gallants at Orlando Stadium. Dates, kick-off times and match venues for the semi-finals will be confirmed by the PSL in due course.
Pirates extended their unbeaten run in the competition by edging SuperSport United 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their quarter-final battle at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
The game had to be decided on penalties after failing to produce a winner following 120 minutes of action where four goals were shared evenly. Next on the Soweto Giants’ sights is the Free State-based outfit, who endured a similar path of the last four.
This was after going all the way against ABC Motsepe Championship log- leaders Durban City on Sunday, pulling through with a convincing win in the shootout. The semi-final draw has now set up a rather unpredictable match-up, according to the two most recent results between the two sides.
Pirates and Gallants have already met twice in the Betway Premiership this season, the Buccaneers hammering Bahlabane ba Ntwa 8-1 in the first round meeting before Gallants recovered to avenge with a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
Meanwhile, after Amakhosi booked their place in the last four following a dramatic and controversial encounter against Stellenbosch at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday, they have been drawn to face either Sundowns or Sekhukhune United.
Against SuperSport, Chiefs led 1-0 at halftime and appeared to be going through before Andre De Jong equalised in the 87th minute. Five minutes into the six added on by referee, Sikhumbuzo Gasa, with the scores level at 1-1, Pule Mmodi bundled the ball into the net from Mduduzi Shabalala’s wicked corner.
The goal was initially disallowed and then awarded following a lengthy consultation between the referee and his assistant, who had initially flagged a suspected infringement. Substitute, Mfundo Vilakazi put the result beyond doubt deep into stoppage time, running the length of the field to score into an empty net after Stellenbosch goalkeeper, Sage Stephens had gone forward for a corner with seconds remaining in a desperate attempt to restore parity.
The Sundowns and Sekhukhune was postponed due to the venue being double booked. According to the PSL, the Lucas Moripe Stadium was scheduled to host both the Nedbank Cup quarter-final match and the South African U17 women's national team's FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.
The semi-final draw:
Sundowns / Sekhukhune vs Kaizer Chiefs
Orlando Pirates vs Marumo Gallants
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