Orlando Pirates needed a moment of brilliance from Mbekezeli Mbokazi to reach the quarterfinals of the Carling Knockout Cup on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old captain smashed home a stunning long-range strike in the 87th minute to hand the Buccaneers a hard-fought 1–0 win over Siwelele FC at the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates had earlier wasted a golden chance to take the lead when Evidence Makgopa’s fifth-minute penalty struck the post after Siwelele defenders brought him down in the box.
The miss seemed to set the tone for a frustrating evening as Siwelele matched the hosts stride for stride.
The visitors threatened on several occasions, with former Kaizer Chiefs trio Samir Nurkovic, Christian Saile, and Teboho Potsane all going close.
Grant Margerman nearly silenced the home crowd with a powerful drive that whistled just wide of the post.
For large spells, Pirates struggled to find rhythm, with Relebohile Mofokeng enduring an unusually quiet performance.
Just when the match looked destined for extra time, Mbokazi stepped up with a thunderbolt that sent the stadium into a frenzy.
Pirates, who have struggled to replicate their cup dominance of past seasons, will now look to build momentum as they chase silverware once again.
