Orlando Pirates advanced to the Carling Black Label Cup final after defeating Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs via the penalty shoot-out.
There was a late Chiefs as Njabulo Blom missed out due to flu and was replaced by Phathutshedzo Nang, whereas a late entry for the Buccaneers followed too with Olisa Ndah withdrawn due to national team duty.
Read: Sundowns book Black Label Cup final spot
It was not an easy start from the respective giants where very little in so far as opportunities and goal-mouth action materialized with balls delivered out wide much of the time.
Pirates launched the first meaningful threat around the 20th minute when a curling free-kick from Tapelo Xoki bounced off the ground and forced Brandon Peterson to parry for a corner-kick.
Very little penetration up top from the Soweto giants came later on before Njabulo Ngcobo nodded a clever delivery from Keagan Dolly's corner wide shortly after Peterson parried Bandile Shandu.
The defensive instincts from Shandu rose to the fore minutes to halftime when he made a timeous tackle in the six-yard area and thwarted a one-on-one opportunity by Kgaogelo Sekgota.
Pirates turned to the dugout before the break and made a change where Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo was withdrawn and Kabelo Dlamini slotted in for the former Marumo Gallants FC man.
Arthur Zwane's charges resumed on the brighter note and a low snap shot from an acute angle by Yusuf Maart brought a save out of goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Following a quiet spell, Chiefs looked to have gone ahead through a first-time shot by substitute Ashley Du Preez from a ball over the top but it was called for offside.
As the struggle to find the continued, the match was then settled in a penalty shoot-out which the Buccaneers won after Vincent Pule netted the winning kick whilst Sifiso Hlanti missed for Chiefs.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Mathoho, Njabulo Ngcobo, Hlanti, Dove, Sekgota, Maart, Nange, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Dolly, Billiat
Orlando Pirates: Mpontshane, Mthethwa, Xoki, Mako, Shandu, Ndlondlo, Timm, Motshwari, Makaringe, Erasmus, Saleng
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