Scot, Uruguayan Among South African League Cup Match-winners

Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Oct, 2018 ) :Scot Simon Murray and Uruguayan Gaston Sirino were among the match-winners Saturday when the South African League Cup kicked off with five round-of-16 ties.

Murray, who joined title-holders Wits this year from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian, scored in the first minute to deliver a 1-0 win at Free State Stars.

It was the fourth goal in all competitions for the 26-year-old striker from Dundee, who was signed after Egyptian Amr Gamal flopped in a similar role last season.

Victory was particularly satisfying for Johannesburg-based Wits as they have consistently struggled away to stars on a small pitch in central town Bethlehem.

Mamelodi Sundowns edged 2017 League Cup runners-up Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 near Pretoria thanks to a goal created and executed by South Americans.

Brazilian central defender Ricardo Nascimento played a superb long pass for Sirino to dart forward and beat Cameroonian goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb on 60 minutes.

Coaches Pitso Mosimane of Sundowns and Steve Komphela of Celtic agreed that the Uruguayan might have been offside, but replays of the goal were inconclusive.

Mosimane hailed the cup tie as "CAF Champions League standard" and admitted Celtic made it difficult for the 2016 African champions.

"Celtic pressed high up the pitch so the only way we could get past them was playing long balls," said the Sundowns coach.

Orlando Pirates were another club to emerge 1-0 winners with Vincent Pule converting a low cross on the hour to give the hosts victory over dogged Chippa United.

Pule scored the only goal when Wits beat Celtic 1-0 in the last League Cup final before moving west from Johannesburg to Pirates in neighbouring Soweto.

Chippa are guided by former Pirates coach Eric Tinkler, and four of his starting line-up once played for the 'Buccaneers'.

"We were poor in the first half," admitted Tinkler, "but the boys were fantastic in the second half only to let themselves down by not shooting at goal more often." Maritzburg United came from behind to edge visiting Highlands Park 2-1 in eastern city Pietermaritzburg with Mohau Mokate snatching an 88th-minute winning goal.

Moeketsi Sekola gave Highlands the lead just before half-time and Siphesihle Ndlovu levelled 15 minutes from time to set up an exciting climax.

League strugglers Baroka eased the pressure on Zambian coach Wedson Nyirenda by winning 2-0 at home to Golden Arrows in northern city Polokwane.

Collins Makgaka scored in the first minute and Tebogo Sodi doubled the lead 11 minutes from time.