A double strike from Orlando Pirates Zimbabwean goal-machine, Tendai Ndoro helped Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates to a well-deserved 3-1 win against Jomo Cosmos in the Nedbank Cup round-of-16 match.
This big encounter took place at a packed Olën Park in Potchefstroom, where approximately 15 000 fans witnessed goals galore in a free-flowing football match.
Cosmos had previously beaten Pirates 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match in January this year, to the shock of football lovers nationwide. On that occasion, Cosmos Zimbabwean striker Charlton Mashumba scored the winning goal.
This time, however, it was his countryman who scored on the opposite side with goals in each half to keep Pirates’ Nedbank Cup aspirations afloat.
See the pictures here: Pirates and Cosmos in action
Pirates took the lead after Ndoro headed the ball past Cosmos keeper, Lesego Modiba in the 7th minute. The noise was deafening as the Pirates support blew their vuvuzela’s at full volume in celebration of the goal.
Cosmos went into the game without their regular keeper, Sherwin Naicker, but Modiba made a number of great saves, to keep his side in the game. This was especially the case when Pirates sent in crosses and corners in search of a second goal, but Modiba was solid under the high ball, ably assisted by captain Frederick Nsabiyumva.
Suddenly, out of blue, Cosmos struck back with an equaliser after 33 minutes through their Zimbabwean hero, Mashumba who looked to once again be Pirates menace. A bullet strike from 25 metres out struck the post and went in, much to the delight of the Cosmos fans. Despite being the home team, they were still overshadowed by the mass of Pirates supporters.
The Buccaneers kept pressing and used the width of the pitch to their advantage as their speedy wingers, Thabo Rakhale and Mpho Makola, kept harassing Cosmos’ defence.
It eventually paid dividends as Luvuyo Memela rose high to head in a crucial goal to send Pirates 2-1 ahead at half-time.
The break seemed to suit Pirates as they doubled their lead early on in the second half with Ndoro tapping in from close range. That was the killer blow against Cosmos, who now needed to play out of their skin to repeat another upset.
Cosmos, by and large, did not play poorly in the second half and had a number of fantastic opportunities to make their mark, but were let down by poor finishing.
The catalysts for Cosmos’ struggles in attack were Pirates defensive pack of Thabo Matlaba, Ntshikelelo Nyauza, Ayanda Gcaba and Rooi Mahamutsa, who stopped the red coloured team with bullish command at the back.
After the match, Ndoro heaped praise on his team.
“It is not about me scoring the goals. We work together as a team,” he said.
Cosmos’ journey in the cup has now ended and they will need to shift their focus to survival mode in the Absa Premiership relegation battle.
A few big weeks of football await Cosmos, who will play Wits next at Olën Park on Wednesday, 13 April.
