Orlando Pirates were made to pay for their missed chances as Bidvest Wits stormed into the semi-finals of the MTN8 with a 2-1 comeback victory. 

Wits looked to press Pirates in the opening minutes but the Buccaneers remained composed as neither side created any clear-cut openings early on.

Mogakolodi Ngele then had the first shot of the match in the 12th minute but the Wits midfielder’s effort was comfortably saved.

Wits had an effort off a corner easily gathered on the quarter-hour mark before Pirates raced down the other end. With the Clever Boys defence caught off guard, Thulani Hlatswayo was guilty of impeding Bucs duo Tendai Ndoro and Thabo Matlaba, costing his side a penalty in the process. The spot kick was duly slotted in by Oupa Manyisa to give Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Wits bagged themselves an equaliser in the 37th minute of the match as Buhle Mkhwanazi’s header was ruled to have been bundled over the line following a corner. With the half-time whistle sounding soon after, the scores remained locked at one goal apiece.

The second-half began at a fast pace as Abbubaker Mobara played through Ndoro on goal almost immediately only for the forward’s effort to rattle the post.

Wits regrouped well following the chance and put Bucs under some pressure of their own, with the Pirates defence doing well to repel a series of attacks.

Daine Klate came close with a free kick for Wits just after the hour mark but his shot was well parried by Felipe Ovono. 10 minutes later Ndoro wasted a huge chance as he opted to shoot instead of laying off to the better positioned Thabiso Kutumela.

Bucs were made to pay for their missed chances as Hlatshwayo hit in a rebound following Ovono’s failure to deal with a shot, putting Wits 2-1 up with 15 minutes to go.

In the end they proved unable to find an equaliser, sending them crashing out as Wits moved into the semi-finlas.