Shootout heartbreak: Pirates dumped out of Nedbank Cup by Casric Stars

In one of the most significant upsets in recent Nedbank Cup history, Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars eliminated Orlando Pirates 5-4 on penalties following a gruelling 0-0 draw after 120 minutes at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday night.

The Buccaneers, who dominated large periods of play and hit the woodwork twice, were left shell-shocked as the underdogs from the second tier held their nerve in a dramatic shootout to advance to the next round.

Orlando Pirates started the match with clear intent, but they found Casric Stars’ goalkeeper Tshigwana Mthombeni in inspired form throughout the evening.

Andre de Jong had multiple opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half, including a point-blank header in the 33rd minute that Mthombeni brilliantly kept out to keep the visitors level. The second half followed a similar pattern as Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshepang Moremi became constant threats, yet the clinical edge required to seal the game was missing.

The most agonising moment for the home supporters came in the 94th minute of regulation time when Tshepang Moremi rattled the crossbar from the left side of the box, nearly stealing a win at the death.

Casric Stars secure historic win over Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium

Extra time saw Abdeslam Ouaddou throw on Daniel Msendami and Yamela Mbuthuma in a desperate bid for a goal, but Casric Stars retreated into a deep defensive block that proved impossible to break. Mthombeni, despite requiring medical attention twice during the extra periods, continued to frustrate the Sea Robbers by saving a goal-bound effort from Oswin Appollis in the 99th minute.

As the game drifted toward a stalemate, it became clear that the outcome would be decided by the narrowest of margins from the penalty spot.

The penalty shootout was a rollercoaster of emotions that began with a nightmare for the home side when veteran defender Nkosinathi Sibisi dragged the very first penalty wide to the left. The pressure shifted throughout the rounds as Mpho Chabatsane later hit the bar with his effort, though Casric Stars’ Manqoba Ozoemena missed shortly after to keep the door ajar for the Buccaneers.

Sipho Chaine gave Pirates a final lifeline by saving Mfundo Thikazi’s penalty to bring the score to 4-4, but the definitive blow landed when Nkosikhona Ndaba struck the left post. With the chance to win it, Zebulon Mtshweni remained calm and fired his shot into the top left corner to send the Casric Stars bench into a frenzy and silence the Soweto crowd.

The result sees Casric Stars progress to the quarter-finals as giant-killers, while Orlando Pirates are left to reflect on a night of missed opportunities and a premature exit from a competition they were expected to dominate.