Orlando Pirates cruise past Milford to reach Carling Knockout quarter-finals

Defending champions Orlando Pirates secured their place in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Milford FC on Tuesday night.

Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring after 16 minutes before Tshepang Moremi struck twice, including once in first-half stoppage time, to put the Soweto club firmly in control.

Buccaneers head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made two changes to the side that beat African Stars in the CAF Champions League on Friday, restoring Deon Hotto and Ghampani Lungu to the starting line-up. Oswin Appollis returned to the squad but began the match among the substitutes.

Pirates began with authority and took the lead when Mokobodi ran on to a through-ball before calmly placing his finish beyond Milford goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza. It was the forward’s second goal in as many matches for the club.

Milford FC, top-flight debutants, struggled to impose themselves as Pirates controlled possession. The visitors’ next notable opportunity came in the 23rd minute, when Hleza denied Thalente Mbatha.

Pirates doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. Moremi rounded Hleza and finished from a tight angle for his sixth goal of the campaign, leaving Milford with little response to the champions’ attacking pressure.

Moremi then completed his brace before half-time, giving Pirates a three-goal cushion at the interval and capping a highly productive opening 45 minutes for the forward.

Milford coach Xanti Pupuma responded with four substitutions at the start of the second half, introducing Thabana Mabena, Mnqobi Mbhele, Sicelo Masilela and Vusumuzi Mthabela in an attempt to revive his side after a disappointing first-half display.

The changes improved Milford’s involvement in the match, but they were unable to reduce the deficit. Mpho Padime, who had replaced Lungu during the first half, was prominent after the interval and tried to add to Pirates’ lead with several efforts at goal.

Padime’s attempts, however, failed to seriously test Hleza, and the defending champions remained comfortable as the match progressed.

Ouaddou also had the weekend’s Soweto Derby in mind and used the final stages to manage his squad. With 25 minutes remaining, he withdrew Moremi, who had made the decisive contribution, along with Bulelani Sigomoshe.

Camren Densin and Mohau Nkota were brought on to help see out the match, with Pirates completing a straightforward win and advancing to the last eight of the Carling Knockout.