The magic of Collins "Ntofontofo" Mbesuma, the Zambian international, destroyd Black Leopards' hope of participating in the next round of the Telkom Knockout competition.
Mbesuma scored a brace in a game that ended in a 2-0 victory for the Buccaneers. It took place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening
Lidoda Duvha started with an attacking line-up that featured Rodney Ramagalela and Brian Amidu up front, while Pirates fielded five men in the midfield and two strikers, Mbesuma and Lehlohonolo Masalesa.
Pirates, the defending champions of the competition, dominated the game right from the onset and were aided by the sending-off of the Leopards left back, Thulani Ntshingila, towards the end of the first half for a second booking.
The visitors from Gauteng took the lead in the sixth minute. Masalesa created the opening goal with a great cross from the right flank that was headed home by the lone striker, Collins Mbesuma. Mbesuma had a good chance to double Pirates' advantage a few minutes later, but Leopards' keeper, Postnet Omony, executed a brilliant save.
Omony denied Mbesuma another goal just after the half hour mark after some slick build-up by the Buccaneers' midfielders. The Leopards killer-striker, Rodney Ramagalela, almost caught the Pirates keeper, Moeneeb Josephs, napping with a long-range effort that sailed over the crossbar in the 36th minute.
Mbesuma continued to look threatening in the second half and should have racked up a second goal in the 57th minute when Patrick Phungwayo provided an excellent cross from the left corner. The Zambian, however, headed over the top from close range. Mbesuma finally did it again in the 80th minute to put the result beyond doubt.