The former SuperSport United player helped the Buccaneers to a 2-1 victory against their Cape rivals at the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates had earlier opened the scoring through Isaac Chansa, while Kaizer Ntloana netted for Santos.
The Buccaneers promised much in the first five minutes of the game, but nothing came good of their forays into Santos territory.
But after promising much and delivering nothing, Pirates took the lead through a Chansa strike in the 18th minute.
The Zambian international sent a stunning shot past Santos goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng, much to the delight of the Bucs’ faithful.
Coach Ruud Krol’s men started to dominate the game after the goal, surging forward through Chansa, Klate, Andile Jali and Dikgang Mabalane, who were involved in almost every movement.
But, however this did not mean that Santos sat back so that Pirates could take the match to them; the Cape side tried to move forward at every given opportunity. Phikolethu Spelman, Jurie Basie and Erwin Isaacs were prominent in these moves, but, yet again, the Pirates defence manned by Zvenyika Makonese, Lucky Lekgwathi, Ruben Cloete and Oupa Manyisa stood their ground. Santos’ efforts were finally rewarded when they equalised through Ntloana in the 33rd minute.
Ntloana put the ball beyond Pirates stopper Moeneeb Joseph’s reach following an inch-perfect pass from Spelman.
This match saw the return of one- time fans’ favourite Teko Modise, who was in the starting line-up after missing the recent one-day Charity Cup tournament.
And in an effort to endear himself to Pirates’ followers, Modise involved himself with every attack, but it soon became evident that he still has a long way to go before returning to form.
The two sides began the second half slowly, with Pirates always threatening.
And it was no wonder that Klate gave Krol’s men the lead in the 62nd minute following a goal-mouth scramble, after a corner by Modise.
Nine minutes later, with only Motsoeneng to beat, Modise shot wide to the displeasure of the Pirates’ fans.
A limping Modise was finally pulled off for Bucs’ new recruit, Mark Mayambela, in the 84th minute.
Chansa watched in disbelief as his shot, which had the beating of Motsoeneng, hit the crossbar 11 minutes before full-time.
Pirates join Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town, into the MTN8 semi-finals.
Source - Daily dispatch Online
Need insurance quotes - www.gr8insurance.biz (South Africa only)
