Pirates extinguish TTM’s giant-killing aspirations in Nedbank Cup

There was to be no fairytale for the Limpopo-based underdogs as a clinical Orlando Pirates side secured a victory to extinguish Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila’s (TTM) giant-killing aspirations in the Nedbank Cup Last 32.

Playing at a neutral Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon due to the devastating floods that have displaced TTM from their home province, the Buccaneers showed no sentimentality toward their opponents’ plight.

And despite TTM’s storied reputation as “giant-killers,” the Buccaneers’ superior quality shone through, extinguishing any hopes of an upset and ensuring their quest for an unprecedented domestic quadruple remains firmly on track with a 4-1 win.

The Buccaneers wasted no time asserting their dominance. In the 8th minute, Oswin Appollis drew a foul from Sithembiso Ngobe inside the area, earning a penalty. Andre de Jong stepped up and clinically converted the spot-kick into the bottom right corner to give the visitors an early lead.

The pressure remained relentless, and in the 17th minute, Thalente Mbatha doubled the advantage. Receiving the ball outside the box, Mbatha unleashed a precise right-footed strike that found the bottom left corner, leaving TTM goalkeeper Lebohang Mohale with no chance.

TTM, however, refused to go down without a fight. In the 39th minute, Sithembiso Ngobe made amends for his earlier error, firing a brilliant free-kick into the bottom left corner to pull one back for the underdogs before the interval.

Second Half: The Maswanganyi Show For Pirates

Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou introduced Patrick Maswanganyi at the start of the second half, a move that proved decisive. In the 50th minute, Maswanganyi restored the two-goal cushion, finishing a well-worked move assisted by Yamela Mbuthuma with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

The latter stages of the match were marred by several injury delays for TTM, with Lebohang Mohale, Narisizwe Tole, and Katleho Mathuntu all requiring medical attention. Despite these interruptions, Pirates remained clinical.

In the 90th minute, Sipho Mbule put the result beyond any doubt. Assisted by the influential Maswanganyi, Mbule struck a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1.

While TTM goalkeeper Lebohang Mohale kept the scoreline from escalating further with a string of impressive saves—notably denying Yamela Mbuthuma and Patrick Maswanganyi—the gulf in class was evident. Pirates dominated the corner count and maintained a high volume of attempts throughout the second period.

With this victory, the Buccaneers successfully avoid a potential “banana skin” against the 2021 champions and progress to the Last 16, keeping their historic chase for four trophies in a single season very much alive.