A trip across the Gauteng province awaits Orlando Pirates in the next round of the Nedbank Cup. The defending champions will travel to face five-time winners SuperSport United in the quarter-finals following the draw on Monday evening.
Following a riveting weekend of knockout football, the two Gauteng rivals formed part of the teams that had booked their spots in the next round. They have been pitted against one another in one of the more enthralling match-ups in the last eight.
It will be somewhat of a grudge match for the Soweto Giants, who are set to lock horns with the last team to defeat them in the final of the esteemed competition. Matsatsansa achieved the feat twice, denying the Buccaneers the 2016 title before lifting the coveted trophy a second successive time after scaling the same hurdle.
In this year’s tournament, United’s endurance was tested en route to the quarter-finals when they went the distance against Championship outfit Cape Town Spurs. It took them 119 minutes to find a winner with Lebohang Maboe landing the decisive blow in dramatic style to secure a path to the next round for the men in blue.
Following early exits in the last two editions, they are now back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2022 and will look to end Pirates’ reign which extended after a commanding performance at home over the
weekend.
Unlike their Gauteng rivals, the Buccaneers only needed 90 minutes to get past Baroka, beating them 3-1 at Orlando Stadium. They will be back on the road as they look to defend their title for the second consecutive season.
Their next opponent is an all-too-familiar foe and one they have already encountered in knockout football this season when they claimed a 3-1 win in a marathon MTN8 quarter-final in Soweto in August last year. The two sides have also met in the league this season, with the Buccaneers prevailing at home once more.
The upcoming clash presents a clean slate for the Tshwane outfit, who will welcome the change in scenery and competition, while the visitors aim to continue their pursuit of an 11th title.
Fixture dates, match venues, and kick-off time are set to be announced by the League at a later date.
