Orlando Pirates lost 5-4 on a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw with Black Leopards, which saw the Buccaneers exit the competition.
Pirates came into the game targeting progression to the next round of the Cup as they aim to end their four-and-a-half-year trophy drought. However, they are battling a congested fixture schedule and that would undoubtedly been playing on the minds of the Bucs’ technical team.
The Leopards, on the other hand, were on a good run of form since the arrival of Dylan Kerr towards the end of 2018, and would have been hoping to take advantage of a sold-out Thohoyandou Stadium to help guide them past their more fancied opponents.
Milutin Sredojevic made four changes from their last match, as Musa Nyatama, Xolani Mlambo, Asavela Mbekile and Innocent Maela were named in the starting lineup.
A packed-out stadium was treated to a lively opening where the Leopards came close to opening the scoring through Mwape Musonda in the 13th minute as his effort sailed just over.
Pirates began to probe and eventually broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Justin Shonga picked out the top corner with a excellent free kick.
Leopards weren’t behind for too long, as Musonda equalised six minutes before the break. He struck his shot on his first touch, catching Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane out to level the scores.
Both sides went in search of a goal in the remainder of the half, but were unable to capitalise on any openings.
The second half took a while to get going, as both teams looked to grow into the second half.
Pirates eventually created an opening when Vincent Pule almost restored their lead in the 61st minute. His shot drifted wide of the target, however.
Both sides looked to find a winner, but it was not forthcoming in the remainder of the half with the game seeming to head into extra time.
Pirates forward Shonga then had a chance to seal the win three minutes before the end, but his shot rifled the side netting.
The game then went to extra time. Leopards threatened in the first stanza, but were denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Jackson Mabokwane.
Lidoda Duvha were reduced to ten men with three minutes remaining as Lehlohonolo Masalesa picked up his second yellow card for a lunge on Mlambo and was duly sent off.
The game then began to drift as penalties became a reality for both sides.
The Leopards, however, held their nerve in the shootout to triumph 5-4 in sudden death and progress to the last 16 of the competition, knocking the Soweto giants out of the Nedbank Cup.
