Zinnbauer wants Pirates to transfer cup form to league

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer admitted it was time his team transferred their impressive scoring run in cup games to the DStv Premiership.

While racking up an impressive 14 goals across nine cup competition games, Orlando Pirates have scored a mere 15 goals in 18 league games this season.

Pirates were impressive again in the cup on Saturday, dispatching Maritzburg United 3-1 in the Nedbank Cup last 16 at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Maritzburg scored first via Bucs reject Thabiso Kutumela early in the game before goals from Kabelo Dlamini, Deon Hotto and Vincent Pule in the second stanza propelled the Sea Robbers to victory.

Pirates scored eight goals en route to lifting the MTN8, and in the CAF Confederation Cup they boast five strikes at the moment. In the Ke Yona they have amassed four, making it a combined 14 goals in cup games.

“We need goals in the league because we do well in the CAF games and in the Nedbank Cup [in terms of scoring many goals].

“It is time we take our cup forms to the league,’’ the Pirates coach said.

“I don’t know what the difference is but as a coach you always want top performance in every game.

“Maybe it is because the cup games are a once-off thing and there’s pressure to win such games.’’

Zinnbauer then reserved special praise for Dlamini, who was introduced for Ben Motshwari at halftime.

“The Bucs coach feels Dlamini was the catalyst for the win as he managed to unlock the Maritzburg defence.

“In the second half we dominated, we created opportunities to score.

“For me it’s good Dlamini scored and he had a good game.

“He came in and he was the solution against a low block [Maritzburg’s deep defending],’’ Zinnbauer said.

“His short passes in small spaces allowed us to play without making turnovers.

“We deserve this win hundred percent and I am happy we’ve gone through to the next round.’’

The German added that team talk at the break also yielded fruit.

“At halftime we gave players a wakeup call in the dressing room.

“I think the players understood what they had to do and they did what we want.’’

Meanwhile, Limpopo’s

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila had something to celebrate as they progressed to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup.

TTM eliminated Swallows 4-3 on penalties after their game had ended 2-2 after extra-time at a wet Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday.

TTM veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi was the hero as he saved two penalties to help his team to dump Swallows out of the cup competition.