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Third straight MTN8 final for Pirates after dominating win over City

Staff Reporter|Published

The Sea Robbers achieved the improbable on Saturday, becoming the first side to steer the ship to the Wafa Wafa cup final three times in a row. File Picture: Gavin Barker, BackpagePix

THIS is Orlando Pirates’ Holy Grail. The Sea Robbers achieved the improbable on Saturday, becoming the first side to steer the ship to the Wafa Wafa cup final three times in a row after beating Cape Town City on aggregate in their two-legged semi-final.

The Buccaneers’ victory was even sweeter as they won 2-0 on Saturday at home, adding to the 1-1 draw that they got in the first leg in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Innocent Maela is the captain of this ship that’s sailing into calm waters and it seems they cannot hit any obstacles at Orlando.

They beat Disciples 4-0 in the second of the Caf Champions League preliminaries here last week, winning 4-0 on aggregate to march into the second round, where they will face Jwaneng Galaxy.

However, there are other players who hold onto the steering wheel and can’t seem to do any wrong either, especially given Saturday’s performance.

Patrick Maswanganyi, Thalente Mbatha, Relebohile Mofokeng and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine were in beast mode against the Citizens, proving why they deserved Bafana Bafana call-ups.

Bafana face Uganda and South Sudan in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at home in Orlando on Friday (6pm) and away four days later, respectively.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos will not only hope that the three men steer his ship to clear waters, but he’ll bank on the crowd to fill up Orlando Stadium yet again.

After all, this is a place to be for local football now given that Pirates have won three games in a row here this season, having also beaten SuperSport United and Disciples.

Orlando is fast becoming a fortress – the team that visits this ground is haunted by ‘The Ghost’, who fill the famous ground to the rafters like they did on Saturday.

Pirates gained control before the half-hour mark as Tshegofatso Mabasa headed home Mofokeng’s cross to give his team the lead.

However, the Sea Robbers had made their intent clear even before then as they dominated the match from the outset.

Goalkeeper Chaine rewarded his maiden Bafana call-up by tightening up Bucs at the back as he won every shot with comfortable saves to the delight of ‘The Ghost’.

Unlike his offish form in the first leg, Maswanganyi wore the ‘captain’s hat’ on Saturday, directing traffic with aplomb. Whenever he held the steering wheel, the Bafana international didn’t only link play, but he excited ‘The Ghost’ who deliriously chanted his nickname, ‘Tito, Tito, Tito’.

Mofokeng benefited from Maswanganyi’s work, keeping the Citizens’ defence on their toes.

This Pirates team proved that they don’t only rely on inroads into the final third to score goals as Deon Hotto chipped in with a delightful free-kick before the break.

The Namibian slotted into the top corner from close range, leaving keeper Darren Keet in no man’s land, while ‘The Ghost’ celebrated on the stands.

The clash was rendered a no-contest by half-time as Pirates had a two-goal cushion and an away goal advantage, leaving Eric Tinkler and his men out of sorts.

The Capetonians just couldn’t get going and compete with the Sea Robbers as they battled in the second half.

Pirates dominated possession and they had clear chances to wrap up the game.

Makhehleni Makhaula unleashed a long-range pass that found Mofokeng on the right wing. The latter did well to get past Keet, but he couldn’t slot the ball into an empty net.

His shot hit the side-netting, but ‘The Ghost’ cheered the stalwart on, perhaps recalling what he did in the previous games, which included scoring the team’s only goal in the first leg.

This Sea Robbers ship was in full control and when coach Jose Riveiro introduced new Angolan signing Deivi Vieira Gilberto, ‘the Ghost’ cheered for him.

In the final, Pirates will meet either Mamelodi Sundowns or Stellenbosch FC, who meet in the other second leg semi-final on Sunday.

Whoever wins, though, must be warned that this is Pirates’ cup, and they are here to defend it!

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Third straight MTN8 final for Pirates after dominating win over City