Carling Knockout final | Pirates 0-0 Gallants — Buccaneers Control but Final Remains Deadlocked
Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants entered halftime locked at 0-0 in the Carling Knockout final, despite the Buccaneers controlling large stretches of the opening period at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
José Riveiro’s starting XI — Chaine; Lebitso, Mbokazi, Seema, Ndaba; Makhaula, Mbatha; Nemtajela, Appollis, Mofokeng; Makgopa — began brightly and nearly found an early breakthrough.
Inside two minutes, Relebohile Mofokeng’s intense press created a turnover that opened space for Evidence Makgopa, only for Gallants to clear off the line.
Gallants’ line-up — Arubi; Sikhosana, Chabatsane, Nhlapho, Otladisa; Eroine, Mabuza, Ndlondlo; Ncube, Sithole, Bance — struggled to settle early but almost capitalised on a Pirates mistake when Ndaba misjudged a high ball. Katlego Otladisa, facing his former club, dragged his shot wide.
Pirates regained control midway through the half, with Masindi Nemtajela firing over before chances fell to both Makgopa and Oswin Appollis, neither able to apply the finishing touch.
The closest the Buccaneers came was on the cusp of halftime when Makgopa’s glancing header forced Washington Arubi into a superb full-stretch save to keep the scoreboard unchanged.
A tense second half awaits — Pirates pushing, Gallants surviving.
Confirmed Line-ups
Orlando Pirates:
Chaine; Lebitso, Mbokazi, Seema, Ndaba; Makhaula, Mbatha; Nemtajela, Appollis, Mofokeng; Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Sibisi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Dansin, Selepe, Mbule, Moremi, Mbuthuma
Marumo Gallants:
Arubi; Sikhosana, Chabatsane, Nhlapho, Otladisa; Eroine, Mabuza, Ndlondlo; Ncube, Sithole, Bance
Subs: Mlambo, James, Mabotja, Clifford, Luthuli, Mphambaniso, Msendami, Mhlongo, Motloung