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Despite achieving their glory the hard way, Soweto clubs triumphed over their Cape Town rivals with both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs advancing to the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout yesterday.
Additional celebrations for the sprawling township came in the form of Swallows FC, who beat Ajax Cape Town 3-2 in their GladAfrica Championship game in Dobsonville earlier in the day.
The game at Orlando Stadium was not as action-packed as was the case in the Chiefs’ comeback victory via penalties over Cape Town City in the Mother City.
For the Buccaneers, it was experience which came in handy when it appeared as if the game was headed for extra-time.
Pirates waited until almost the end to see off Stellies, who continue to receive the hard knocks of top flight football since their promotion from the NFD at the beginning of the campaign.
After Stellies stood their ground with their zonal marking for most of the game, Thembinkosi Lorch pulled off a smash-and-grab act six minutes from the end to earn his side a ticket to the next round of the competition Bucs finished as the runners up last season.
Pirates had to dig deeper to unlock the compact Stellenbosch defence, which was further strengthened by the introduction in the second half of former Bucs defender Marc van Heerden and Robyn Johannes.
Striker Augustine Mulenga posted the first real attempt at goal but his powerful shot was dealt with by Lee Langeveldt in the visitors’ goal.
The Zambian international was later denied by the crossbar following another well-taken strike just before the half-hour mark.
At this point, Stellies were just content with absorbing the pressure, while Bucs’ keeper Wayne Sandilands was hardly tested on the opposite end.
To the visitors’ credit, they had something going on in midfield, thanks to the pin-point passing from Nkanyiso Zungu. However, the Capetonians did not have the right ammunition in the final third to pose any real threat to the Bucs defence.
Instead, the hosts showcased a free-flowing game with Linda Mntambo calling the shots in the middle of the park in his rare start for Bucs.
Vincent Pule also came close on numerous occasions. Each time he was in the opponents’ goal area he looked like he was going to cause problems.
For a change, there was also stability at the back for the Bucs, whose rearguard ranks among the most porous in the league.
Sandilands was reinstalled in goal ahead of Joris Delle who shipped in seven goals in Bucs’ last three league games.
While Bucs interim coach Rhulani Mokwena registered his second victory in seven games since he took over, the struggle continues for the team from the Windelands district.
Coach Steve Barker’s team arrived in Soweto last night having won just one game in eight league outings.
They recorded their victory, a 2-0 win over Polokwane City on October 2.
Pirates will next face Highlands Park on Tuesday before they travel to Cape Town for a clash with Stellenbosch on Saturday.
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