THIS was not the type of game football purists would have loved watching - hurried shots, mistimed tackles and countless back passes with the match scoreless at half-time.

But two defenders - Siyabonga Sangweni and Thabo Matlaba - rescued this MTN8 semifinal first-leg clash with second half goals, putting Orlando Pirates on the verge of yet another cup final.

Sangweni, the Pirates skipper, dashed into the penalty box and - unmarked - connected with Daine Klate's corner kick to stab home the opener and the first crucial away goal.

Bidvest Wits couldn't respond and moments after striker S'thembiso Ngcobo had come on for the ineffective Henrico Botes, the Buccaneers found a second through Matlaba.

Pirates went route one from goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, whose long ball needed just a touch from Sifiso Myeni to let Matlaba loose on an incredible run from his own half.

Once faced with only keeper Jackson Mabokgwane to beat, only a fool would bet against the nimble-footed defender to find the back of the net. He duly gave Pirates a 2-0 victory.

Gavin Hunt made two changes to his starting line-up in the 1-1 draw against AmaTuks last Wednesday with Sboniso Gumede and Toriq Losper replacing Katlego Pule and Siyabonga Nhlapho. He would have wondered why those alterations didn't improve the play.

Pirates had had a much more eventful trip to the Free State against Bloemfontein Celtic where they had to twice come from. VV brought on Ntsikelelo Nyauza for Happy Jele at rightback for this cup match.

With all the planning from both coaches to try and outwit each other, the two sides never got going until Sangweni's goal and Matlaba's moment of brilliance.