Orlando Pirates marched into the Nedbank Cup semifinals after defeating AmaZulu 4-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal clash held at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Up against their first top-flight opposition in this year’s competition, the Buccaneers faced a tough assignment on the road against an Usuthu outfit yet to concede in the tournament.

It was the Soweto Giants who dominated a frantic start to the first half and had a shot cleared off the line as early as the second minute when Tshegofatso Mabasa was denied by Ramahlwe Mphahlele who was positioned right under the posts with goalkeeper Veli Mothwa out of the frame.

It only took the Bucs striker another two minutes to fire another shot, this time drawing a save off Veli Mothwa with a powerful right-footed effort.Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng each had a go at Mothwa’s goal, but neither could find a way through the sea of green shirts committed at the back by the hosts.

Usuthu’s first opportunity came in the 13th minute, and it was spurned by Victor Letsoalo who could not make sufficient connection with the ball when he received an excellent cutback from Tshepang Moremi.

This preceded a relatively quiet period, offset by a decisive moment in the game on the half-hour mark when Pule Ekstein benefited from a wayward pass deep from Deon Hotto inside Bucs territory before firing past Sipho Chaine to give the hosts the lead.

Pirates’ pursuit for the equaliser initially yielded no real chances, save for a speculative shot from Thabiso Sesane, before Mofokeng’s seemingly goalbound curler was deflected out for a corner.

They were then awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime when Makhehlene Makhaula was brought down inside the box by defender Taariq Fielies.