On Saturday night, Thembinkosi Lorch made a triumphant return to the Orlando Pirates side, as his goal and an earlier strike from Monnapule Saleng saw the Buccaneers defeat All Stars FC 2-0 in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
The match, played at the Wits Football Stadium, saw Pirates give first starts to Craig Martin and Sandile Mthethwa, while Thembinkosi Lorch featured on the bench for the first time since August along with new signings Marou Souaibou and Makhehlene Makhaula. The match was a tight affair, with All Stars proving a tough nut to crack.
☠️ FT || All Stars FC 0 – 2 Orlando Pirates
62′ Saleng
71′ Lorch⚫️⚪️⭐️Matchday NedbankCupOrlandoPiratesOnceAlwaysMidrandOPFC pic.twitter.com/kS7l6t3lzS
— Greater Midrand Orlando☠️Pirates Supporters Branch (@MidrandOPFC) February 11, 2023
The hosts had pace on transitions and had a good resistance in their last third, while Pirates had a casualty early on after Goodman Mosele picked up an injury and was replaced by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
Pirates had a sustained pressure on their hosts towards the half-hour mark and Mthethwa found the back of the net six minutes before the break, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Jose Riveiro made a tactical change at halftime as Lorch came on for Kabelo Dlamini, and the substitution paid dividends as Saleng broke the deadlock shortly after the hour-mark with an improvised right-footed hooked shot after a scramble in the box.
Lorch then put the game to bed 19 minutes before time with a low cracking shot in the box after he reacted the quickest to a ricochet in the box.
Pirates gave Makhaula his debut off the bench in the last five minutes in place of Miguel Timm, as the Buccaneers booked their spot in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.
