Duba treble lifts Kaizer Chiefs as Soweto giants cruise into Carling Knockout second round

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates each scored three unanswered goals to progress from the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup on Tuesday night.

The victories came at an important time for the Soweto rivals, who will meet in the Betway Premiership Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday at 3.30pm.

Wandile Duba scored all three goals as Kaizer Chiefs defeated TS Galaxy 3-0 at FNB Stadium, easing some of the pressure on coach Fernando Da Cruz.

Amakhosi had managed only one victory in their previous eight matches in all competitions. Their difficult run also included elimination from the Caf Confederation Cup by Zambia’s Red Devils in the second preliminary round on Friday.

Orlando Pirates recorded an identical scoreline against Milford FC at Orlando Stadium. The Buccaneers’ win added to a positive period after they secured a place in the Caf Champions League group stages with a 5-0 aggregate victory over African Stars of Namibia.

Duba leads Chiefs through

Chiefs and TS Galaxy were level at 0-0 at half-time, but Duba opened the scoring three minutes after the restart.

Amakhosi recovered possession on the right before a series of neat passes allowed Pule Modi to send the ball across the face of goal. Duba met the delivery and finished in the 48th minute.

Galaxy substitute Veluyeke Zulu then brought down Mduduzi Shabalala inside the penalty area, prompting referee Siyabulela Qunta to award a spot-kick.

Mfundo Vilakazi took responsibility, but his penalty was pushed on to the right post by TS Galaxy goalkeeper Melusi Mathebula. Duba reacted quickest to the rebound and scored his second in the 63rd minute.

Three minutes later, Shabalala played Duba through on goal and the forward completed his hat-trick by beating Mathebula again to make it 3-0.

Pirates strike before the interval

All three of Orlando Pirates’ goals came before half-time, with Milford FC repeatedly caught by passes played through the defence.

Tshepang Moremi supplied the first, releasing Thapelo Mokobodi in the 17th minute. Mokobodi ran through before finishing beyond goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza.

Thalente Mbatha then held off a challenge in midfield and found Moremi in space on the right. Moremi rounded Hleza and rolled the ball into the net to double Pirates’ advantage in the 34th minute.

Moremi added his second goal two minutes into first-half added time. He beat the offside trap to collect a precise defence-splitting pass from substitute Mpho Padime.

Padime had come on for Ghampani Lungu in the 39th minute, completing the scoring before the break as Pirates moved comfortably into the next round.