Santos boot Bucs out of Cup

JOHANNESBURG – Eleazer Rodgers’ 68th minute header was all Santos needed to advance to the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout at the expense of favourites Orlando Pirates at the Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday night.

A free-kick from the halfway line by Musa Otieno found Rodgers rising above Edward Malinga. The substitute’s header across goal caught Avril Phali off balance as he scrambled to get the ball.But it was too late for Phali and the solitary goal proved too much for the Bucs as Santos became the second team through to the semis.The first half was an all-Pirates affair as the Bucs went for the jugular from the beginning.However, wayward finishing and the safe hands of Brendan Wardle were apparent as Pirates failed to finish on several occasions.The best effort belonged to Pirates’ Isaac Chansa, who picked his spot and tried to curl the ball beyond Wardle who fittingly pulled off the best save of the first half.A Paulus Masehe flick-on got the better of Wardle but not the goalposts as Pirates watched in disbelief as the ball rebounded off the upright and the crossbar into the arms of the grateful keeper.Dribbling wizard Jabu Mahlangu, formerly known as Jabu Pule, constantly had the Santos players bemused when in possession.The former Kaizer Chiefs star ran tirelessly throughout, making neat passes and intelligent runs.Still, like his teammates, he could not get close to beating Wardle.SupersoccerThe substitute’s header across goal caught Avril Phali off balance as he scrambled to get the ball.But it was too late for Phali and the solitary goal proved too much for the Bucs as Santos became the second team through to the semis.The first half was an all-Pirates affair as the Bucs went for the jugular from the beginning.However, wayward finishing and the safe hands of Brendan Wardle were apparent as Pirates failed to finish on several occasions.The best effort belonged to Pirates’ Isaac Chansa, who picked his spot and tried to curl the ball beyond Wardle who fittingly pulled off the best save of the first half.A Paulus Masehe flick-on got the better of Wardle but not the goalposts as Pirates watched in disbelief as the ball rebounded off the upright and the crossbar into the arms of the grateful keeper.Dribbling wizard Jabu Mahlangu, formerly known as Jabu Pule, constantly had the Santos players bemused when in possession.The former Kaizer Chiefs star ran tirelessly throughout, making neat passes and intelligent runs.Still, like his teammates, he could not get close to beating Wardle.Supersoccer