MTN8

Dzvukamanja nets on debut as Pirates edge 10-man CT City in MTN8

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Terrence Dzvukamanja of Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates edged 10-man Cape Town City 1-0 in their MTN8 quarter-final on Saturday evening, with new signing Terrence Dzvukamanja netting the winner in the first half.

Pirates came into the game looking to set an early marker for the rest of the season, with Josef Zinnbauer handing debuts to former Bidvest Wits players Thulani Hlatshwayo, Deon Hotto and Terrence Dzvukamanja as well as former Highlands Park player Wayde Jooste.

City, on the other hand, were looking to build on their strong finish to last season but had lost main forward Kermit Erasmus to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Dzvukamanja started brightly and almost got his side into an early lead but his header from a Gabadinho Mhango free kick flew over the bar.

The Citizens then began to stamp their authority as they controlled the early possession without creating any clear-cut chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Pirates’ new Zimbabwean striker, Dzvukamanja, was then handed another opening with 23 minutes gone as right back Wayde Jooste checked back on to his left foot before sending in an inch-perfect cross, expertly directed by the former Wits striker into the top-left corner.

After going a goal down, matters got worse for the Citizens as Fagrie Lakay received his marching orders for an over-the-top challenge on Jooste with 33 minutes played, leaving the Cape side with an hour left to play with 10 men.

It was 1-0 to the Buccaneers at the break with City facing an uphill battle to get back into the game.

Pirates started the second half on the front foot looking to kill off the game and had a couple of chances, but a combination of good goalkeeping from Peter Leeuwenburg and desperate defending from the City backline denied Pule and Mhango in quick succession.

Jan Olde Riekerink’s side almost got back into the game when Thabo Nodada released a shot from just outside the area, but it rustled the top netting whistling over the bar.

The tempo of the game began to drop off in the final stages with neither side able to find a way to goal, with Pirates winning 1-0 and advancing to the semi-finals of the MTN8 for the first time since 2014.