Stylish Pirates keep Carling Knockout defence alive
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Stylish Pirates keep Carling Knockout defence alive
Oct 27, 2026 – 06:01 pm
By Kickoff writer
Orlando Pirates marched into the Carling Knockout quarter-finals following a 3-0 victory over Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday evening.
Carling KnockoutTeams: Orlando Pirates v MilfordResult: 3-0Scorers: Mokobodi (16′), (Moremi 45′ +2, 35′)
The Buccaneers, who were donning their new stylish third kit, looked for a solid start to the defence of the cup following progression to the CAF Champions League group stages and with only defeat all season, but the Stallions had a score to settle and were keen to avenge the opening day loss.
Pirates pressed aggressively, interrupted the visitors building up from the back and grabbed the lead when a through ball by Tshepang Moremi found Thapelo Mokobodi who rolled calmly in the bottom-corner.
Pirates looked to double their lead a minute ahead of the half-hour mark as Evidence Makgopa cut-in to the box and opened-up his body to release a shot, but Siphamandla Hleza palmed away.
The Buccaneers eventually extended their lead ten minutes to halftime after a short-passing pattern released Moremi to run in-behind on the half-space of area and beat the on-rushing Hleza to finish from an acute position.
With the commanding lead, it afforded the Buccaneers the chance to shuffle up their stall five minutes before halftime and removed Ghampani Lungu to summon in Mpho Padime.
Pirates made life more difficult for the Stallions and grabbed a third on the stroke of halftime when Moremi beat the offside trap to go around Hleza and slotted in to secure his brace.
Following an underwhelming first half, the visitors came out for the second half showing no fewer than four alterations in the form of Sicelo Masilela, Mnqobi Mbhele, Vusumuzi Mthabela and Thabana Mabena.
The Buccaneers still enjoyed complete ascendancy and were close to a fourth goal minutes after the resumption when Moremi came in on the left to cutback to the far post for Padime who side-footed wide of the mark.
Milford gained a bit of momentum a little later and embarked on a rare foray to get their first sight on goal with substitute Mthabela in on goal, but goalkeeper Sipho Chaine produced the save to keep his clean sheet.
The Soweto giants were still in rampant mood despite a healthy lead and missed out on a fourth goal in the closing quarter as Mokobodi beat the offside trap and lashed a first-time shot over the top.
Pirates continued to chase more goals within the closing minutes, but were repeatedly met with poor finishing from their front-men, although they were not made to rue the misses and advanced to the quarter-finals.
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