Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates in a Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixture at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was even handed game in which the Buccaneers found the back of the net, while Amakhosi failed to do so, despite getting good goal scoring opportunities. Pirates’ Tendai Ndoro scored a brace.

Morgan Gould replaced the suspended Lorenzo Gordinho in the centre of defence, while Kgotso Moleko, who had struggled in recent weeks with a minor injury, came back into the team at right back in place of Daniel Cardoso.

Home side Pirates had the better start, creating two good opportunities to open the score in the first ten minutes of the game. However, Chiefs goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse made an excellent save, cancelling out one attempt, while the other missed the target.

Slowly, Chiefs came into the match, thanks also to the Buccaneers suddenly failing to string passes together. As usual, Willard Katsande and Lucky Baloyi worked hard in central midfield, while Gould showed his experience and leadership qualities in the backline.

Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala got into fine goal scoring positions. Parker, who again played more on the left wing, got the ball to the side of goal. However, instead of shooting at goal, he laid the ball off to a teammate, failing to reach the intended target.

Tshabalala’s shot from just outside the Buccaneers box was well pushed away to corner by the goalkeeper.

The game was flowing up and down, to the amusement of the crowd, which cheered on every attacking move, especially from the Amakhosi.

The halftime score was as it started, goalless.

Chiefs continued in the second half where it left off, being the better team, even though it didn’t result any real chances.

Another opportunity came Amakhosi’s way in the 61st minute, when after some good combination play, involving Parker and Camaldine Abraw, the ball landed in front of Baloyi, just outside the box, but he couldn’t find the target.

Coach Steve Komphela decided to bring on William Twala in the 74th minute, a move that was loudly applauded by the Amakhosi faithful.

Shortly thereafter there was a brilliant long ranger effort from Parker, but the ball just flew past the wrong side of the goal post.

There was, however, a shocker for Chiefs in the 76th minute, when Tendai Ndoro put the ball past Pieterse from close range. It came against the run of play.

There was another set-back eight minutes later when a stunning long range show from, again, Ndoro, flew past Pieterse into the back of the net, 0-2.

That was also the final score.

Chiefs maybe deserved better, but it wasn’t to be. The Buccaneers go to the Nedbank Cup Last 16, while Amakhosi are out.

Next up for Chiefs is an away match against Platinum Stars at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday, 9 March (kick-off is at 19:30).

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Ndoro 76’, 84’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse; Moleko, Mathoho, Gould, Masilela (Lebese 87’); Tshabalala, Katsande, Baloyi, Parker; Maluleka (Twala 74’), Abraw (Mthembu 84’)

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo; Nyauza (Jele 82’), Gcaba, Gyimah, Matlaba, captain; Rakhale, Makola, Sarr, Memela (Qalinge 71’); Matopa (Myeni 63’), Ndoro