23.10.2013 23:18 h

Football: Bacela hat-trick steers Pirates to easy win

Dani Pacheco (l.) verlässt den FC Liverpool
Dani Pacheco (l.) verlässt den FC Liverpool

Lennox Bacela scored a hat-trick as CAF Champions League finalists Orlando Pirates cruised to a 4-0 victory over Golden Arrows on Wednesday in a South African League Cup quarter-final.

The 30-year-old mid-year signing from Bloemfontein Celtic netted twice in the first half and once in the second before being replaced by Zambian Collins Mbesuma.

All his goals at chilly Orlando Stadium came from clinical finishing, using his head once and right foot twice to punish slack Arrows marking.

Kermit Erasmus also scored as the 'Buccaneers' sailed into the semi-finals and a November 20 date with SuperSport United in Pretoria township Atteridgeville.

Pirates set up a Champions League final against title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt by drawing 1-1 with Esperance in Tunisia last weekend.

And the stars in black showed no ill effects of the long journey from Tunis as they stamped their authority over Durban-based Arrows from the kick-off.

Bacela opened the scoring on 11 minutes by powerfully heading a Khetowakhe Masuku cross past goalkeeper Siya Mngoma.

Arrows, playing for the first time under England-born coach Mark Harrison, were giving Pirates time and space and fell further behind on 34 minutes.

Bacela played provider this time, nodding a Masuku free-kick back into the path of Erasmus, whose stinging low shot flew into the corner.

An Oupa Manyisa pass put Bacela through to hammer the ball past Mngoma at his near post three minutes before half-time.

Pirates continued to dominate after half-time and any doubts about the outcome vanished on 57 minutes when Bacela took a pass from Erasmus and fired home.

The 'Buccaneers' face their greatest domestic rivals Kaizer Chiefs Saturday in the South African Premiership and host Ahly on November 2 in the first leg of the final.