Hotto gives Pirates edge over Sekhukhune in MTN8 semifinal tie
· Citizen
Orlando Pirates’ hopes of winning a fifth successive MTN8 title remained alive after they claimed a hard-earned 1-0 win over Sekhukhune United in the first leg of the semifinal on Saturday.
Deon Hotto scored the only goal of the match to give the Buccaneers slight advantage going into the second leg in Orlando next Saturday.
Visit casino-promo.biz for more information.
Pirates fans, who packed the venue, finally got to see new signing Sebastian Pedersen in action in the second half. The Norwegian marksman came on for Yanela Mbuthuma in the 65th minute.
Simphiwe Masilela, who was given his first start for Pirates this season, almost gave the visitors a lead in the opening minute of the match. Yanela Mbuthuma dispossessed Daniel Cardoso before laying the ball to Masilela who went wide with a snap shot from outside the box.
Nkosinathi Sibisi then wasted a chance to put Pirates in the lead in the 16th minute when he sent his free header over the crossbar.
Buthelezi finally made his first save of the half in the 33rd minute when Oswin Appollis went direct from a set piece from just outside the penalty box, but his tame shot didn’t trouble the Sekhukhune goalkeeper.
Seven minutes later, Hotto brought the best out of his former Bucs teammate, Buthelezi, with a shot from range.
Babina Noko’s best chance of the half fell to Ellis Rammala in the 40th minute when he dribbled his way past a couple of Pirates players before unleashing a shot that went wide of goal.
Hotto makes Sekhukhune pay
Sekhukhune were to pay for this miss three minutes later when Hotto gave the Buccaneers the lead just before the half-time break when he beat Buthelezi with a powerful left-footed shot following some nice build-up play from the visitors.
Pirates led 1-0 at the break.
Pirates Abdeslam Ouaddou made one change at the start of the second half, bringing in Cemran Damsin for young Masilela. His counterpart Cedric Kaze responded by taking off Lehlohonolo Mojela and bringing in Thabo Nkwana.
Appollis almost doubled Pirates’ lead six minutes from the restart, but his shot went narrowly wide as the Buccaneers continued to pile the pressure on Babina Noko.
Nkwana almost made an immediate impact to the game when he took a snapshot just outside the penalty area in the 58th minute, but Sipho Chaine did well to parry the ball away for a corner kick.
Sekhukhune tried to get back to the game by creating some chances, but the Pirates defence stood strong. Kaze’s team now have all their work cut out for them in order to reach the final of the MTN8