Abdeslam Ouaddou hails Orlando Pirates' squad depth after dramatic MTN8 victory

Pirates needed extra time to overcome a stubborn Durban City outfit, with Gamphani Lungu producing the decisive moment in the 120th minute to book the Buccaneers' place in the next round.

The victory did not come easily for Pirates, who had taken the lead before half-time through Patrick Maswanganyi's penalty. Durban City were reduced to 10 men after Brooklyn Poggenpoel received a second yellow card for the foul that resulted in the spot-kick.

However, Pirates struggled to put the game beyond their opponents and were punished when Durban City found an equaliser in the second half.

The match subsequently went into extra time, where Ouaddou turned to his bench in an attempt to inject fresh energy into his team.

The Pirates coach was particularly impressed by the impact of his substitutes, who helped the team maintain intensity during the closing stages.

"We tried to bring a little bit of freshness with the players we introduced, and I was impressed," Ouaddou told the media.

"They brought some speed and some energy into the game. I think it's good news for us to know that we have some players on the bench who can come and impact the game."

Ouaddou admitted that the injury to captain Nkosinathi Sibisi also disrupted the balance of his side and forced the technical team to make adjustments.

Despite those challenges, he praised his players for maintaining their composure and continuing to search for a winning goal.

The coach also acknowledged the difficulty posed by Durban City, recalling how the KwaZulu-Natal side had troubled Pirates in their previous meeting.

"We knew that last season when they came here, they really troubled us because they were very solid and aggressive," he said.

Although Pirates would have preferred to settle the contest earlier, Ouaddou believes surviving such a demanding cup tie can benefit his squad as they continue their campaign.

The Buccaneers will now switch their attention to the Betway Premiership, with AmaZulu awaiting them at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday.