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Johannesburg - Despite taking the lead in the first half through Oupa Manyisa's penalty, Orlando Pirates lost 2-1 to Bidvest Wits in an MTN8 quarter-final clash at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night.
Goals from defenders Buhle Mkhwanazi and Thulani Hlatshwayo allowed the Clever Boys to go through to the next round of the competition.
The loss for the Soweto giants means they are now out of the Wafa Wafa competition, following in the footsteps of Platinum Stars and Kaizer Chiefs.
In the early stages of the encounter, the Clever Boys piled pressure as early as the 12th minute when Thabang Monare tried a long range effort, but goalkeeper Felipe Ovono produced a fine save.
However, against the run of play, the Buccaneers were awarded a penalty when Wits skipper Hlatshwayo fouled Tendai Ndoro in the box.
Pirates captain, Manyisa stepped up in the 16th minute to send goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs the wrong way to hand Muhsin Ertugral's men a deserved lead.
Gavin Hunt's men kept knocking on Pirates' door chasing an equaliser but Ovono was the man to deny them, making a number of saves from dangerous crosses through Daine Klate.
Nevertheless, the Equatorial Guinea international keeper finally cracked when defender Mkhwanazi headed home a set piece from Frank Mhango's corner in the 38th minute. It was 1-1 at the interval.
Upon their return, Pirates nearly made it 2-1 as Ndoro hit the woodwork after a wonderful pass from Abbubaker Mobara with Josephs beaten in the 47th minute.
However, with less than 15 minutes to go, Ovono spilled Monare's shot. He pushed the ball straight into Hlatshwayo's path in the box and the defender made no mistake to finish from close range.
In the last four minutes, Ndoro received a great ball from the right wing in what was their final chance and the Zimbabwean attempted a spectacular bicycle kick to score an equaliser but it narrowly went wide.
In the wake of the victory, the Students have now secured their place in the semifinals, joining Cape Town City and Chippa United.
