Pirates scored first goal in the 90 minutes
and 45 seconds by Ayanda Gcaba and Helder Pelembe in the 93 minutes and 50
seconds within the 5 minutes added time to cancelled the brace scored by Thanda
midfielder Andile Fikizolo in the 1st minute and 37 minutes of the first half.
Pirates players later showed character by
taking a led through Kermit Erasmus in the first half of the extra time but
Mhlengi Cele of Thanda spoilt the show by taking the game to penalties
shoot-out after scored an equalizing goal within the last 14 seconds of the
game. However, Pirates progressed to the last 16 of the cup after winning the
game 3-1 via penalties.
The stressed Orlando Pirates caretaker coach
Eric Tinkler was livid after the game.
“To be honest, I was not impressed with how
we started the game… you can't as professional team like Pirates conceded in
the first minute of the game especially the way we did.”
“It was totally unacceptable. We couldn't
pick or win any second ball...our movement didn't exist. We looked total out if
it. I don’t know if it was travelling that we have been doing in the past 3
weeks… possibly it might have an effect but the first half was a half to forget
as we got away with murder.”
Pirates caretaker coach was also worried
about conceding soft goals from set-piece.
"It is the same old story… we talked
every week about mistakes we keep making. The problem is that those mistakes
are coming from the same areas which are free kick and corner kick and as
professional athletes, they shouldn’t been doing that."
Tinkler applauded his boys for their fighting
spirit after telling them to be patient to get back into the game which made
difference at the end of the game.
