Pirates punish Milford in Carling Knockout

Orlando Pirates were at their rampant best in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 this week and completed a dominant 3-0 win over Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the showpiece.

☠️ FT | @orlandopirates 3 - 0 Milford FC 🥅 Mokobodi 15', Moremi 34', 45+2' ⚫⚪🔴⭐ #MatchDay #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways https://t.co/9v6rYGVecr

Pirates dominated Milford during the first 10 minutes of the match, building pressure through sustained periods of possession as their opponents were pinned back into their half.

The home side’s pressure eventually paid off in the 16th minute as Thapelo Mokobodi scored.

In a clinical transition, Mokobodi received the ball swiftly via two passes from the defence line before finishing calmly.

While Milford posed little threat going forward, Tshepang Moremi doubled Pirates' lead in the 35th minute following another rapid transition move going forward.

After evading the offside trap, Moremi rounded the goalkeeper before finishing from an acute angle.

The Soweto giants capitalised on Milford’s high line once more before the break, with Moremi completing his brace and also scoring his seventh goal of the campaign.

Similarly to his first effort, Moremi skipped past the goalkeeper on the right-hand side of the box before scoring with ease.

Pirates continued to dominate large parts of the second half but often fell short at the final hurdle as seen with chances created by the likes of Deon Hotto and Boitumelo Radiopane.

Milford scrambled to stop the Bucs onslaught on numerous occasions while the Sea Robbers were unable to convert their chances during the final quarter of the match.

Hotto proved to be a tricky customer to deal with on the left-flank as the clock ticked down at the Orlando Amstel Arena, with Pirates often looking to cause damage from his area of the pitch.

However, Milford were able to keep their opponents at bay in the second 45 but ultimately succumbed to a risky highline in the first-half.

Orlando Pirates: (3) 3 (Mokobodi 15’, Moremi 34’ 45’)

Milford: 0

Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Hotto, Zulu, Seema, Sigomoshe (Mthiyane 64’), Selepe, Mokobodi, Moremi (Nkota 63’), Mbatha (Dansin 63’), Lungu (Padime 39’), Makgopa (Radiopane 63’)

Milford: Hleza, Bhengu, Khwanya, Cele, Mdluli, Gxakoshe (Mabena 46’), Chili, Nomandela (Dyonasi 64’), Mkhize (Mthabela 46’), Ndlabi (Masilela 46’), Zikakayo (Mbhele 64’)