Pirates’ cup campaigns finally brings happiness
First Division Thanda Royal Zulu.
Trailing 2-0 in injury time, goals from Ayanda Gcaba and Helder Pelembe miraculously took the game to extra-time, where Pirates went through on penalties.
Such are the fine margins between success and failure, but Pirates looked the more confident side in the Nedbank Cup decider, even after going a goal down to Wits. Jabulani Shongwe scored the opener for The Students midway through the first half.
Pirates kept attacking though and it was on the wings where they found joy, with all three goals being created in wide areas.
That in part made up for the disappointment of losing in the two other domestic cup finals this season, on both occasions to Platinum Stars.
The first, at a raindrenched Moses Mabhida Stadium, started in bizarre fashion when Andile Jali kicked-off despite the official teamsheets having Lehlohonolo Masalesa in the starting line-ups instead. It was an administrative error, apparently.
Pirates were the livelier in the difficult conditions in the first half, but it was Stars who took the lead early in the second period. Tintswalo Tshabalala’s free-kick was flicked on by former Buccaneer Benson Mhlongo and Robert Ng’ambi headed home at the back post.
After Erasmus had incorrectly had a goal ruled out for offside, Pirates did find their equaliser five minutes before the end of normal time and what a goal it was too.
Left-back Thabo Matlaba picked up the loose ball and blasted a long-range shot.
Orlando Pirates went to pieces in the penalty shootout as Rooi Mahamutsa, Ndumiso Mabena and Lennox Bacela all missed, for Stars to claim a 3-1 victory and lift the MTN8 trophy for the first time in their history.
The same two sides met in the final of the Telkom Knockout and again Stars would come out on top having defeated both Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in the previous rounds.
This match was an emotional occasion at Mbombela Stadium coming just days after former president Nelson Mandela had passed away. There were fitting tributes to the great statesman.
Mogakolodi Ngele, hotly tipped to join Pirates next season, proved the hero for Dikwena as he scored twice after coming off the bench, the winner in particular was a magnificent strike that he placed into the top corner.
Pirates had taken the lead as veteran defender Lucky Lekgwathi headed home Daine Klate’s ball into the box.
But Ngele’s double act in the final 12 minutes won it for Stars, who tripled their haul of trophies with their only previous success the 2006 Telkom Knockout.
Their run to four finals meant Pirates played in every match they possibly could this season – a total of 53.