A Zakhele Lepasa hat-trick lit up Orlando Stadium as Orlando Pirates bought off to the good begin to their MTN8 title defence with a 5-0 quarterfinal hammering of Sekhukhune United on Saturday.
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The in-form Lepasa, who scored a brace in a midweek DStv Premiership conflict towards Royal AM at the identical venue, now has 5 targets in his final two video games.
Pirates have joined Mamelodi Sundowns in the final 4 of the competitors after the Pretoria membership beat Moroka Swallows FC 1-0 in the earlier fixture.
It was a sluggish begin in the sport, as Pirates solely bought an opportunity to check Sekhukhune goalkeeper Bandra Sangare in the fifteenth minute after a mistake at the again, however the alternative went to waste.
It took 22 minutes for the hosts to get a objective with a superb interchange of passes involving Monnapule Saleng, Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi, resulting in the latter laying the ball into the path of Lepasa, who scored from shut vary.
Just earlier than half-time, Pirates may have prolonged their lead, however they had been twice denied by the woodwork.
The first 10 minutes after the break noticed Sekhukhune pushing ahead extra they usually had been awarded a penalty after Paseka Mako introduced down Chibuike Ohizu inside the field.
The striker stepped as much as take the spot kick, however he was denied by the upright, maintaining Pirates in the lead.
A couple of minutes later, the house facet doubled their lead because of Lepasa, who benefited from Saleng’s shot which hit the publish earlier than coming his means.
Things bought worse for Babina Noko as the Buccaneers made it 3-0 because of Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo in the 58th minute.
It was changing into a celebration of targets for Pirates as Saleng additionally bought his title on the scoresheet two minutes later to make it 4-0.
Sekhukhune gave the impression to be misplaced in the sport with no means of coming again. Pirates had an opportunity to attain the fifth objective after Deon Hotto was introduced down inside the field.
Lepasa took the duty to take the spot-kick, however he blasted the ball over the bar, seemingly letting an opportunity of scoring a hat-trick slip away in the 79th minute.
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In the ultimate minutes of the sport, Lepasa made amends of his missed penalty and eventually bought his third objective of the match after a ravishing cross from Hotto.
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