Mamelodi Sundowns v Orlando Pirates
Duo return to haunt Pirates
Benedict Vilakazi and Lebohang Mokoena came back to haunt former club as their extra-time goals for Mamelodi Sundowns helped dump Orlando Pirates out of the Nedbank Cup with a 3-1 win.
The visitors side, who led 1-0 at half time after Isaac Chansa's eighth-minute penalty, lost Joseph Kamwendo through a second-half red card, which eventually proved decisive.
The Brazilians eventually made pressure tell with an equaliser by Koketso Mmotong 13 minutes from time, before Vilakazi and Mokoena sealed victory in the additional 30 minutes.
The Buccaneers were ahead with their first chance of the game, which came when Esrom Nyandoro tripped Phenyo Mongala in the box and Chansa sent Brian Baloyi the wrong way with the ensuing penalty.
The home side tried to respond immediately - Elias Pelembe blasting a free-kick straight Senzo Meyiwa followed by Vilakazi firing his angled shot narrowly over.
The game became more settled thereafter with Pirates opting to sit back and hit on the counter attack as their opponents searched for the equaliser.
On the half-hour mark Meyiwa was forced to dash off his line to palm away a dangerous James Mayinga cross, but the Brazilians struggled to create too many clear-cut openings.
Ndumiso Mabena then should have doubled the advantage after the ball came to him unmarked in the centre of the area after Mongala's cross, but the shot was woefully miscued.
Kamwendo was then the provider for a Thulasizwe Mbuyane header at the near post that was put over from a corner kick as Ruud Krol's men threatened a second.
With time running out until half time, Pelembe played in Matthew Pattison, whose control into the box and eventual shot were perfect, but Meyiwa's dive to his right helped keep Pirates ahead.
There was still time for another goal-mouth scramble - Happy Jele's cross allowing Mabena a six-yard strike that was straight at Baloyi.
It was 1-0 at the break and Pelembe had a good chance to equalise straight after when Felix Katongo's cross came to him in the box, but the Mozambican winger blazed his shot wide.
Kamwendo then showed his shooting ability with a 30-yard strike that flew inches wide, before he showed his ugly side with a follow through that was deemed dangerous in a tackle on Luvhengo Mungomeni - referee Buyile Gqubule dishing out a second card to the midfielder that left Pirates with 10-men.
Despite being a man down, the visitors still looked dangerous going forward, with Mbuyane firing wide from distance and Jele drawing a good save from Baloyi with his low right-sided shot.
A good passage of play for Sundowns came around the 70-minute mark when they seemed to camp out in the Pirates box and the pressure eventually proved too much.
Pelembe, a constant threat through the game, provided the cross from the right that came through to the unmarked Mmotong on the back post for a simple tap-in.
That was in the 77th minute and seconds later Dikgang Mabalane had the chance to win it when Mbuyane's cross came in, but the ball was knocked wide.
Chansa had another good shot on goal close to the end - a powerful 30-yard effort - which was punched away by Meyiwa as the game headed into extra time.
Two minutes in and Mokoena grabbed the winner against his former club.
Mmotong dispossessing Lucky Lekgwathi on the the right and firing a powerful shot that came off the upright and into the path of Mokoena to bundle the ball over.
Pirates tried desperately to get back into the game with the closest they came being when Gert Schalkwyk's attempted cross hit the cross-bar.
Vilakazi then sealed the game after pouncing on a Meyiwa error in the 116th minute as Sundowns joined AmaZulu, BidVest Wits and Free State Stars in the last four.