Orlando Pirates broke their 12-match winless run with a hard-fought 3-1 win over minnows, EC Bees in a thrilling Nedbank Cup Last 32 game at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane yesterday.
But the Premier Soccer League outfit were made to sweat by the ABC Motsepe League team.
The little known “Crazy Gang” showed the former African champions no respect as they took the game to Pirates from the onset.
Striker Mzolisi Qalanto failed to connect with a cross in the first minute with a bicycle kick.
It was Pirates who had the first shot on target with a sixth-minute Thabo Matlaba volley after Bees failed to deal with a cross but goalkeeper Eziel Matatela was perfectly positioned and made a routine save.
The combination of Mpho Makola and Dove Wome almost punished the hosts but Wome’s header from the six-yard box went agonisingly wide.
Wome made up for his earlier miss when he tapped into an open net in the 14th minute after Makola’s shot was deflected towards him.
Bernard Morrison almost doubled Pirates’ lead two minutes later after he started the move from his own half and eliminated three players. But Bees were saved by the woodwork as Matatela was beaten.
Pirates controlled the pace of the game well in the midfield with Morrison having a field day against Bees left back and captain John Tshabalala.
Bees easily lost the ball in the middle of the park as the Buccaneers quickly closed them down.
Forcing Bees to make errors almost resulted in a Thamsanqa Gabuza goal in the 27th minute but the unmarked striker headed over.
Bongani Chikila showed why he is Bees’ leading goalscorer with 11 goals in the amateur league when he beat Happy Jele into a Tshabalala cross but his header lacked power to trouble Pirates keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane in the 43rd minute.
Qalanto almost drew Bees level when he rose to meet a Chikila cross in the 45th minute but Mpontshane made a save to deny the third tier league team the equaliser.
In a move to try and contain Pirates in the midfield, Bees introduced Simphiwe Dlamini in place of Phikolomzi Kefile.
Makola doubled Pirates lead early in the second half with a floated free kick which should have been a routine save for Matatela but the inexperienced keeper misjudged the ball.
Bees immediately hit back in the 54th minute with a Chikila strike.
Bees won the ball in the midfield with Chikila racing towards goal before calmly shooting past Mpontshane while Issa Saar and Ayanda Gcaba tried to sandwich him.
Chikila almost scored his 13th goal of the season from a free kick but Mpontshane pulled off a beautiful save in the 61st minute to deny the former Jomo Cosmos man.
The introduction of Dlamini seemed to give the Eastern Cape outfit control of the game as the lanky midfielder controlled the game well.
Gabuza restored Pirates’ two-goal lead in the 66th minute when he met a Wome cross after Matlaba had done all the work after winning the ball in midfield.
Matlaba failed to punish Bees in the 72nd minute when he and Luvuyo Memela went for the same ball after Wome had played in a champagne pass after beautiful counter attack football. Matlaba shot straight at the keeper.
Makola almost scored a second free kick in the 83rd minute but Matatela was perfectly positioned to pull off the best save of the game.
Anyone watching South African soccer for the first time would not have known that Bees and Pirates do not play in the same league, as the Chippa Njedu-coached team matched the Sea Robbers in all departments.
Bucs made to work for victory over Bees
But the Premier Soccer League outfit were made to sweat by the ABC Motsepe League team.
The little known “Crazy Gang” showed the former African champions no respect as they took the game to Pirates from the onset.
Striker Mzolisi Qalanto failed to connect with a cross in the first minute with a bicycle kick.
It was Pirates who had the first shot on target with a sixth-minute Thabo Matlaba volley after Bees failed to deal with a cross but goalkeeper Eziel Matatela was perfectly positioned and made a routine save.
The combination of Mpho Makola and Dove Wome almost punished the hosts but Wome’s header from the six-yard box went agonisingly wide.
Wome made up for his earlier miss when he tapped into an open net in the 14th minute after Makola’s shot was deflected towards him.
Bernard Morrison almost doubled Pirates’ lead two minutes later after he started the move from his own half and eliminated three players. But Bees were saved by the woodwork as Matatela was beaten.
Pirates controlled the pace of the game well in the midfield with Morrison having a field day against Bees left back and captain John Tshabalala.
Bees easily lost the ball in the middle of the park as the Buccaneers quickly closed them down.
Forcing Bees to make errors almost resulted in a Thamsanqa Gabuza goal in the 27th minute but the unmarked striker headed over.
Bongani Chikila showed why he is Bees’ leading goalscorer with 11 goals in the amateur league when he beat Happy Jele into a Tshabalala cross but his header lacked power to trouble Pirates keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane in the 43rd minute.
Qalanto almost drew Bees level when he rose to meet a Chikila cross in the 45th minute but Mpontshane made a save to deny the third tier league team the equaliser.
In a move to try and contain Pirates in the midfield, Bees introduced Simphiwe Dlamini in place of Phikolomzi Kefile.
Makola doubled Pirates lead early in the second half with a floated free kick which should have been a routine save for Matatela but the inexperienced keeper misjudged the ball.
Bees immediately hit back in the 54th minute with a Chikila strike.
Bees won the ball in the midfield with Chikila racing towards goal before calmly shooting past Mpontshane while Issa Saar and Ayanda Gcaba tried to sandwich him.
Chikila almost scored his 13th goal of the season from a free kick but Mpontshane pulled off a beautiful save in the 61st minute to deny the former Jomo Cosmos man.
The introduction of Dlamini seemed to give the Eastern Cape outfit control of the game as the lanky midfielder controlled the game well.
Gabuza restored Pirates’ two-goal lead in the 66th minute when he met a Wome cross after Matlaba had done all the work after winning the ball in midfield.
Matlaba failed to punish Bees in the 72nd minute when he and Luvuyo Memela went for the same ball after Wome had played in a champagne pass after beautiful counter attack football. Matlaba shot straight at the keeper.
Makola almost scored a second free kick in the 83rd minute but Matatela was perfectly positioned to pull off the best save of the game.
Anyone watching South African soccer for the first time would not have known that Bees and Pirates do not play in the same league, as the Chippa Njedu-coached team matched the Sea Robbers in all departments.
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