Mokoena downs Bucs

Sundowns now go into Monday’s semifinal draw as favourites to win the cup they lifted two years ago.

The turning point of the match came when Bucs midfielder Joseph Kamwendo was sent off in the 52nd minute for a second bookable offence. Pirates had the upper hand up until that stage but the red card changed the complexion of the match and allowed Sundowns back into the hard fought cup-tie, and they took advantage of the wounded Buccaneers.

Mokoena showed determination to stick the winner home in the 92nd minute after teammate Koketso Mmotong had struck the upright with a powerful shot. From the rebound Mokoena stabbed the ball past Pirates keeper Senzo Meyiwa and into the back of the net to the dismay of the Bucs fans in the 40 000 strong crowd.

Former Bucs captain Vilakazi then rubbed more salt into Bucs’ wounds when he made it 3-1 in the 115th minute with Pirates in tatters.

The defeat places Pirates coach Ruud Krol’s future under the spotlight with Bucs having gone a decade without winning a knockout competition.

The last time they succeeded in a cup tournament came in 2000 when they won the BP Top Eight Cup. Krol still has a year to run on his contract but that will mean little to the success starved Pirates management and fans.

Pirates looked sharper and were on top in an entertaining first 45 minutes and deserved their 1-0 lead at the break.

The Buccaneers took the lead in the eighth minute when referee Buyile Gqubule adjudged that Downs skipper Esrom Nyandoro had brought down Bucs’ speedy winger Phenyo Mongala inside his penalty area and had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Veteran midfielder Isaac Chansa stepped up and beat Sundowns keeper Brian Baloyi with a powerfully taken and well placed penalty to make it 1-0.

The Brazilians suffered a further setback when key defender Robyn Johannes was forced to leave the field in the 30th minute after he had collided earlier with Baloyi when both teammates went for a high ball.

Baloyi accidentally caught Johannes on the jaw with his knee and the tall defender was knocked out and replaced by Siyanda Xulu.

Bucs kept pushing forward and should have been 2-0 ahead in the 36th minute, but striker Ndumiso Mabena failed to punish Downs after an inch perfect cross form Mongalo. The young Pirates striker fluffed his shot, which rolled wide of the target.

Bucs came close again when striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane headed over the crossbar from a Kamwendo corner in the 42nd minute.

At the other end Meyiwa, who has been in superb form recently, pulled off a super save from a right footed drive produced by Downs midfielder Matthew Pattison in injury time.

Kamwendo watched as his 20-metre strike went wide in the 51st minute, but then the Malawian international midfielder was in tears when he was booked a minute later — his second of the match — and was shown the red card by referee Gqubule which meant Bucs had to see out most of the second half and extra time a man short.

But despite the handicap, Pirates did not defend their slender lead. Baloyi came to Downs’ rescue with a fine save from a fiercely struck Happy Jele effort in the 67th minute.

The Brazilians, however, piled on the pressure and were rewarded when Mmotong found himself unmarked at the far post in the 78th minute and was able to steer home the equaliser.

And a great tackle from Downs defender James Mayinga denied Bucs winger Dikgang Mabalane the winner in the 83rd minute. Then, two minutes later, Baloyi pulled off a desperate save from a well aimed Chansa shot to take the game into extra time.

Playing a man short proved too much for Pirates and it was almost inevitable that the resurgent Downs would capitalise, and they did when Mokoena belted home the rebound from close range after Mmotong had hit the woodwork in the 92nd minute.

To their credit Bucs refused to surrender and the woodwork denied substitute Gert Schalkwyk an equaliser in the 106th minute, but Vilakazi made it 3-1 in the 115th minute to seal the victory.