In what was a hard-fought battle in the Carling Knockout quarterfinals this weekend, Orlando Pirates booked their ticket into the tournament’s final four owing to a slender 1-0 win against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Pirates held the majority of the ball during the first 15 minutes of the match while Sekhukhune sat back in soaking up the early pressure.

With dominance on the ball, Pirates continued to look assured in possession, while they often found space on the left hand side of the pitch, as seen with the likes of Mpho Padime and Tshepang Moremi, who drove the ball forward out wide.

Pirates broke the deadlock moments after the half-hour mark after making a swift decision from a free-kick scenario outside the area. With a quick ball played through into the box, the Sekhukhune backline failed to avert danger as Padime was on hand amid a defensive mix-up to toe-poke the ball home from close range.

Babina Noko threatened as the half came to a close, as Chibuike Ohizu rose to a lofted ball into the box but ultimately watched his header produce no fruit.

It was much of the same for Pirates at the restart and they continued to boss the possession statistic, while Babina Noko did little to threaten the opposition backline.

While the pace of the game slowed down after the hour-mark, Oswin Appollis’ introduction in the second-half injected urgency in the home side’s play, as they created a couple of goal scoring chances in the process.

The Soweto side came agonisingly close to adding their second in the 80th minute mark after Deon Hotto, Appollis and Moremi linked up in attack. With Hotto squaring the ball across the box, Moremi found himself in space with the goal gaping before he skied his effort over the bar.

Tsepho Mokoane forced a reaction save out of Sipho Chaine with around five minutes left on the clock, as Sekhukhune kicked into a gear by creating notable scoring chances.

As the rain came down at the Orlando Amstel Arena, Pirates held onto the lead to secure the win and fended off a couple of late attacks from the travelling side.

Orlando Pirates: (1) 1 (Padime 32’)

Sekhukhune United: 0

Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Hotto (Rapoo 83’), Zulu, Seema, Lungu, Padime (Appollis 65’), Selepe (Mmolai 83’), Moremi, Mokobodi, Masilela, Mbuthuma (Mbuthuma 65’)

Sekhukhune United: Sapunga, Ndlovu (Cardoso 67’), Matsimbi (Mobbie 74’), Gilbani, Mcaba, Khupe, Mkhize, Muzeu (Makubo 74’), Rammala, Mokoane (Phiri 46’), Ohizu (Nkwana 46’)