Magesi FC Upset Orlando Pirates 3-2 in Carling Knockout Shock

Match recap

On Saturday, 19 October 2024, the Carling Knockout delivered a classic cup shock. Magesi FC arrived at Orlando Stadium as clear underdogs and walked away with a 3‑2 victory over the league heavyweight Orlando Pirates.

From the first whistle, the Pirates rocked the ball around, holding 70 percent of possession and peppering the Magesi defence with chance after chance. Coach José Riveiro later boasted that his side logged 30 attempts on goal, while the visitors mustered just three.

Despite that dominance, the opening goal came from Magesi’s striker in the 12th minute, sneaking past the keeper after a slip‑through pass. The Pirates answered quickly, forcing a corner and equalising at the 23rd minute. The dead‑lock lasted only eight minutes before Magesi’s midfielder fired home his second, putting the minnows 2‑1 up.

Orlando Pirates kept the pressure on, and Riveiro’s men finally pulled one back in the 68th minute with a well‑placed header. The game seemed poised for extra time when the Pirates earned a penalty in the 84th minute, but their taker curled it wide of the post.

In the dying minutes, Magesi clinched the win with a swift counter‑attack that finished in the 86th minute, making it 3‑2. The Pirates threw everything at the Pirates’ net in the final minutes, but the clock ran out, leaving the home fans stunned.

What the result means

The upset sends Magesi FC into the Carling Knockout last‑16, where they will face AmaZulu FC. For a club that usually battles in lower divisions, reaching this stage is a massive boost – both financially and in terms of exposure.

Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, face a reality check. Conceding three goals at their own stadium is a rarity, and the loss highlights how cup competitions can expose even the strongest sides when they fail to capitalize on their dominance.

Riveiro, after a brief press conference, congratulated Magesi for their “clinical finishing” and admitted his side was “really, really close” to leveling the score but simply ran out of time. He also warned that the Pirates must tighten up defensively if they hope to stay alive in the tournament.

Fans and pundits alike are already calling the match one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 Carling Knockout. It’s a reminder that in knockout football, a single goal can tip the balance, regardless of how many chances the opposition creates.

As Magesi prepares for the next round, the underdog story continues to capture the imagination of South African football lovers, proving that determination and sharp finishing can outshine sheer volume of shots.