PIC: Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants met in the 2022 Nedbank Cup

Orlando Pirates will host Marumo Gallants in their Nedbank Cup semifinal on the weekend of April 12-13 as The Buccaneers seek a third title in a row in South Africa’s most prestigious knockout competition.
They do have a previous history in the Nedbank Cup which saw less fancied Gallants come out on top, but generally it has been Pirates who have held sway.
Here are five things to keep in mind ahead of their semifinal clash.

CHALK AND CHEESE
The teams have already met twice in the league this season and the games could not have been more different. Pirates romped to an 8-1 success in the first at the Orlando Stadium as they became the first team in PSL history to score seven goals in a single half of league football. The teams had been locked at 1-1 at halftime before Pirates ran riot in the second period. Tshegofatso Mabasa scored a hat-trick and Thalente Mbatha got two. But in the return fixture in Bloemfontein last month, Gallants emerged 2-0 winners, going from conceding eight times to keeping a clean sheet. Gabadinho Mhango and Mbatha with an own goal helped them to the win.

PLAYING BOTH SIDES

Mhango has scored for both teams in this fixture having been a former Pirates forward who is now in the colours of Gallants. He netted for Pirates in a 3-0 win in the 2020/21 season, but since then has scored in both league fixtures for Gallants this campaign. He certainly does love a goal against Pirates. He has played against them 13 times for various clubs, and has five goals and two assists, not a bad return at all. He also has six wins and six defeats in those 13 fixtures, so has enjoyed some success.

PAST SUCCESS
Gallants hosted Pirates in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup in 2022. They were holders of the trophy at the time having won the year before under the name TTM. Phillip Ndlondlo, now a Pirates player, put Gallants ahead from the penalty-spot but Bandile Shandu equalised for The Buccaneers. The game went to penalties and Gallants triumphed 5-4 as Olisa Ndah, Linda Mntambo and Terrence Dzvukamanja missed their final three spot-kicks in a crazy shoot-out. That is the only cup meeting between the sides. 
   

OVERALL RECORD

Pirates have won five of the nine meetings the teams have had in the past, with three draws and a single win for Gallants, which came last month. The Soweto side has scored 17 goals to just five for Gallants. Pirates have managed five clean sheets (which came in the first seven meetings), while Gallants have managed three. The leading scorer in this fixture is Mabasa with his three goals.

HOME COMFORTS
Pirates have only ever lost one home tie in the Nedbank Cup since the competition was first played in its current guise in 2008. Their single defeat came against Free State Stars in the Last 16 in 2012 when they went down 2-1 after extra-time. Edward Manqele and Paulus Masehe scored for Stars, while Daine Klate was on target for Pirates. They have played 19 times on their own patch, winning 17 to go with a single 3-3 draw against BidVest Wits. They have scored 41 goals and conceded 11. That sums up the size of the task facing Gallants.