Richards Bay secured their place in the Carling Knockout semi-final after a 5-4 penalty shootout win following a goalless draw in both regulation and extra time.
Matriculant Philasande Manqele, 20, frustrated the Buccaneers as he made smart saves to keep the Soweto giants at bay during the quarter-final match.
Richards Bay joined Stellenbosch in the last four. GOAL gives you details of how Pirates were eliminated from the league cup.
Pirates came into the match under pressure to deliver after a surprise defeat in a Premier Soccer League game against Cape Town Spurs.
It was the team’s third match without a win in South Africa’s first tier. It explains why the Soweto giants had to deliver on Saturday afternoon.
Knowing Bucs were low in confidence, Richards Bay coach Kaitano Tembo insisted the Natal Rich Boys were keen on replicating what the Urban Warriors had done.
He hinted his team will push for early goals and manage the game; however, the early goals did not come as anticipated.
As usual, the Sea Robbers were dominant from the first whistle, but they were let down by poor finishing from their strikers.
Deon Hotto, Monnapule Saleng and Evidence Makgopa had chances to put the ball in the back of the net, but they lacked composure and killer instinct in the danger zone.
Not even the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Zakhele Lepasa could inspire their teammates. After a goalless draw in both regulation and extra time, the match had to be decided by penalties.
Deon Hotto’s penalty was saved by Manqele while Pirates players Tapelo Xoki, Zakhele Lepasa, Patrick Maswanganyi and Karim Kimvuidi found the back of the net.
The Natal Rich Boys scored all their spot kicks courtesy of Boikanyo Komane, Wilson Mabua, Sinethemba Mngomezulu, Yamela Mbuthuma, Simphiwe Mcineka to advance to the semis.
Tembo can fancy his chances to win the competition considering the fact that all the big boys are now out of the competition.
The semi-final draw will be done on Monday, and no team will be seeded.