Orlando Pirates booked their place in the Carling Knockout Cup final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Richards Bay at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening, thanks to a brilliant first-half strike by Tshepang Moremi.
The 25-year-old winger, a hero from the MTN8 final, once again stepped up on the big stage, showing composure and quality to send the Buccaneers back into another domestic cup final — their first in this competition since 2019.
Pirates, buoyed by their midweek win over Golden Arrows, began confidently in front of a vibrant 40,000-strong Durban crowd.
Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made two tactical changes to his starting XI — Deano Van Rooyen and Mbekezeli Mbokazi came in for Lebone Seema and Thabiso Lebitso — and his team immediately looked sharper and more balanced.
The breakthrough came three minutes before halftime after a period of sustained possession. Sipho Mbule, pulling the strings in midfield, delivered a precise diagonal pass that found Moremi in stride.
The winger’s first touch killed the ball, and his second rifled it low into the bottom corner — a clinical finish that summed up his current confidence.
Richards Bay, however, were not content to sit back. Co-coach Ronnie Gabriel’s men, backed by memories of their 2023 triumph over Pirates in the same competition, pressed forward with intent. Gabadinho Mhango and Knox Mutizwa combined intelligently in the final third but found Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki up to the task.
At halftime, the Natal Rich Boyz made a bold move, replacing the booked Mhango with Lundi Mahala.
The young forward added spark and nearly drew a penalty for his side in the 60th minute when Mutizwa clashed with Sipho Chaine inside the area, but referee Xolani Kwinda waved play on despite loud appeals from the home crowd.
From then, Pirates’ experience in knockout football came to the fore. The introduction of Cameron Dansin brought added composure and energy in midfield, allowing the Buccaneers to maintain their shape and control the tempo.
The 20-year-old’s sharp pressing and ability to link play gave Pirates another dimension as they expertly saw out the contest.
Richards Bay tried to rally late on, pushing numbers forward, but Ouaddou’s men held their lines and slowed down play with calculated precision. The defensive unit, marshalled by Xoki and Sibisi, dealt calmly with every cross and counter.
When the final whistle blew, Pirates’ celebrations were measured yet confident — another cup final secured, another chance at silverware in a season already glowing with promise.
For Richards Bay, there was disappointment, but also pride. They matched Pirates for long spells and left the field to applause from their supporters.
For Pirates, it was a reminder of why they remain the benchmark of knockout football in South Africa — disciplined, clinical, and relentless when it matters most.
