The Sunday News
Orlando Pirates came back from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win over Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium Yesterday afternoon.
Jabulani Shongwe fired the Clever Boys ahead midway through the first half before Kermit Erasmus levelled matters early in the second half.
Sifiso Myeni then handed the Buccaneers the lead after the hour-mark before Erasmus secured the win with his second goal of the match.
Pirates came close to breaking the deadlock in the opening minute when Erasmus ran onto a through ball from Mpho Makola on the right side of the box but his left-footed strike was blocked by Moeneeb Josephs.
The next opportunity came from a freekick in the 16th minute after Erasmus had been brought down by Kwanda Mngonyama on the left but Daine Klate’s effort sailed wide of the target.
Bidvest Wits took the lead against the run of play in the 26th as Shongwe latched onto a pass from Sithembiso Ngcobo on the left side of the box before firing past Senzo Meyiwa and into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
The Clever Boys came close to doubling their lead from a setpiece ten minutes later as Sibusiso Vilakazi delivered a freekick towards Ngcobo at the far post, but the lanky striker was unable to get his header on target.
The Buccaneers continued to search for the equaliser but the Bidvest Wits defence stood their ground, only allowing Thabo Matlaba to shoot over the crossbar from outside the box in the 42nd minute.
Gavin Hunt’s side threatened to add a second goal six minutes into the second half when a freekick was rolled into the path of Ngcobo, who then unleashed a powerful strike which was well-blocked by Meyiwa.
Pirates scored the equaliser at the other end a minute later as Manyisa broke through on the right before cutting the ball back for Erasmus to finish from the centre of the box with the aid of a deflection.
Bidvest Wits almost regained their lead in the 58th minute when Ngcobo met a long throw-in from Phumlani Ntshangase at the near post, but his flicked header was tipped over the crossbar by Meyiwa.
The Buccaneers took the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute when Manyisa found Sifiso Myeni on the right side of the box, who poked home from a tight angle, scoring against his former club.
Vladimir Vermezovic’s side added a third in the 72nd minute when Khethokwakhe Masuku found Erasmus inside the box; his initial shot was blocked but he was able to fire his follow-up past Josephs.
Bidvest Wits tried to get back into the game in the closing stages but Ryan Chapman headed wide in the 81st minute before he was denied by a super save from Josephs in the first minute of added time.
Orlando Pirates (0) 3 (Erasmus 52’+72’, Myeni 63’)
Bidvest Wits (1) (Shongwe 26’)
Teams
Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa, Matlaba, Jele, Mahamutsa, Lekgwathi, Klate, Myeni (Masuku 67’), Ntshumayelo, Manyisa, Makola (Nyauza 80’), Erasmus (Pelembe 79’)
Bidvest Wits: Josephs, Gumede, Kadi (Langwe 46’), Vilakazi, Ngcobo, Nhlapo, Bhasera, Mngonyama, Madubanya (Gibeto 76’), Shongwe (Chapman 76’), Ntshangase. – Supersport
