Substitute Vincent Pule netted the only goal of the game as Orlando Pirates defeated Chippa United 1-0 to advance to Telkom Knockout quarter-finals.

The Soweto giants altered their usual backfour with Milutin Sredojevic opting to utilise Abbubaker Mobara and Marcelo in the fullback positions.

There was little goal mouth action in a first-half which saw Pirates dominate possession stakes, but prove wasteful in the final third.

Zambian striker Justin Shonga came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when he latched onto a loose ball in the area, but his snapshot was tipped away by Daniel Akpeyi.

Coach Eric Tinkler opted for an early tactical substitution with captain Mark Mayambela being substituted for Daine Klate.

The two sides went into the half-time beak deadlocked at 0-0.

Pirates coach Sredojevic made a change in the second half with Bafana Bafana international Vincent Pule replacing Augustine Mulenga.

The substitution paid divdends as Pule gave Pirates the lead on the hour mark as he stroked home Xola Mlambo’s cross into the area.

Pirates brought on Thabiso Kutumela and Mpho Makola for Mlambo and Musa Nyatama respectively.

In the end, the Soweto giants stood firm to book their spot in the Telkom Knockout alongside the Bidvest Wits, Mamelodi Sundowns, Baroka and Maritzburg United respectively.

Photo: Backpagepix