Cup final berth lifts weight off Pirates’ shoulders

Mobara’s goal hands Bucs a chance to avoid ignominy of bleak season

Orlando Pirates’s 80th anniversary celebrations appear to be back on track‚ at least for the time being‚ after Bucs beat Golden Arrows 1-0 to reach the final of the Nedbank Cup at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban yesterday.

A beautifully taken first half header from Abbubaker Mobara ensured that Pirates will line up against SuperSport United in what should be a nail-biting tournament finale at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, also in Durban, on June 24.

United earned their place in the final after beating Chippa United 4-2 on penalties at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London, on Saturday.

Mobara’s goal handed Pirates an opportunity to avoid the ignominy of finishing the season empty-handed in a year when they are supposed to be celebrating eight decades of existence.

Pirates dominated the first half and Mpho Makola should have opened the scoring as early as the ninth minute but he contrived to fire the ball into the heavens without troubling the bemused goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede.

But Makola made amends later in the half when his inchperfect delivery found Mobara‚ who in turn beat Gumede with a delightful header at the near- post. The Arrows defending was appalling to say the least.

Arrows did manage to put up a bit of a fight in the second half as they went in search of the elusive equalising goal that would have taken the game to extra-time.

Nduduzo Sibiya could have earned Arrows the priceless equaliser right at the death but his free-kick curled beyond Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane’s reach and agonisingly crashed against the crossbar.

It was perhaps Arrows’ best opportunity of the game

Pirates and their relieved coach Kjell Jonevret can now look forward to next month’s final with a huge weight off their shoulders.

Bucs still face the prospect of finishing the season outside of the top eight, and earning a place in the Nedbank Cup final will go a long way towards softening that blow should it be confirmed on the final day of the PSL season on Saturday. –