No fairytale as Bucs thrash Tornado
THERE was no fairytale for Tornado FC. A nightmare best describes their Nedbank Cup clash with Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium in Soweto last night.
And for Bucs fans, there was no need for blood pressure checks. No heartache. No upset.
Pirates have endured the pain of getting knocked out by lower division clubs in the past, but it was smooth sailing for the defending champions, who wrapped this round of 32 game up by half-time against the ABC Motsepe League side coached by Bucs legend Jerry Sikhosana.
Unlike last season, when they had to pull off an incredible comeback against National First Division side Thanda Royal Zulu after a scare, Pirates were in control from the first whistle and were a goal up as early as the sixth minute thanks to Lennox Bacela. The striker was brought down in the box by Maphakane Mapogo and he got up to send Tornado goalkeeper Sizwe Majola the wrong way from the spot.
Desperate to win silverware this season, Bucs caretaker coach Eric Tinkler fielded a strong side to ensure they unsettle their opponents.
The hosts were hardly ever troubled and extended the lead in the 26th minute when Thandani Ntshumayelo blasted his shot into the roof of the net after Mpho Makola made a good run on the left and whipped in a good cross.
Tornado were rattled and their coach Sikhosana could do very little to help his inexperienced boys.
Sikhosana, a lethal striker during his playing days, was probably itching to get on the pitch to put the Bucs defenders under more pressure. He was certainly dressed for it in his shorts and t-shirt.
Any hope of a Tornado comeback was crushed just before the hour mark when the club’s defender Mapogo was sent off for a tackle from behind on Kermit Erasmus. Referee Shane Chuma showed the player a yellow card, his second of the night, but did not produce a red card.
The player stayed on the pitch for a couple of minutes before Chuma realised, thanks to help from his fourth official, that he should send the defender off.
Pirates made the most of their one man advantage, camping in the Tornado half looking to put the third-tier side to the sword.
First Makola tried his luck midway through the second half from range, but his sweetly struck shot was brilliantly saved by Majola as it came off the crossbar.
Majola was at fault, however, for Pirates’ third goal in the 72nd minute, scored by Ntshumayelo, whose tame shot found its way into the net.
Bucs substitute Menzi Masuku ballooned his close range shot over the bar and Sifiso Myeni, who was very quiet, struck the upright in the last 10 minutes of play.
Myeni had reason to celebrate four minutes from time when he netted the fourth goal.
PITSO Mosimane, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach, did not have the expected spring in his step yesterday after Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 defeat to SuperSport United on Tuesday night breathed life into the championship race.
Mosimane was preparing his side for their Nedbank Cup last 32 clash against Thanda Royal Zulu on Saturday, but admitted it was hard to turn a blind eye to the midweek Premier League results.
The Amakhosi stumble, as well as a win on the same night for Bidvest Wits, another title contender, reduced Chiefs’ lead at the top to 10 points.
Sundowns still trail the table toppers by 13 points but have two league games in hand. “We did not discuss what happened because I said we must focus on our cup game and from Sunday we will talk about the league. But you just can’t ignore those results,” he said.
Mosimane argued that there were more twists and turns in store because of the congested schedule in coming months, with the Premier League, Nedbank Cup and the Caf Champions League all demanding a fair bit from Chiefs and Sundowns. Wits are also involved in the Caf Confederations Cup. With Mazola Molefe