BENNI BRACE SEALS IT FOR BUCS HOW THEY FINISHED
ORLANDO Pirates thought the only thing that stood between them and the Premiership was Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium. But they hadn’t reckoned with their own delirious fans.
The same fans who had camped outside the iconic venue since Friday night, and created a wonderful atmosphere during a thrilling match.
They had also ensured that getting to the stadium was a logistical nightmare, as buses full of fans stopped in traffic to drop off spectators desperate to get into the stadium.
By half-time, those who didn’t have seats were perched on steps, along the security fence – anywhere they could to catch a glimpse of a fantastic spectacle.
But, it was their final act that they will be remembered by. For more than half an hour, Bucs fans ran amok, dancing around security and posing for pictures at the goalposts, corner flags and any television camera they could locate.
Similar scenes had marred their last big match in Durban, when Pirates defeated Wits in the MTN8 final earlier this season.
The Buccaneers had trailed 2-1 after a crazy five minutes that saw Lucky Lekgwathi open the scoring, before Dillon Sheppard and Katlego Mash- ego stunned the packed stadium into silence.
That silence turned to hope just before the break, as Siyabonga Sangweni nodded in Tlou Segolela’s fine cross.
All the while, the sea of black and white jerseys in the stands kept an ear out for what was going on between Maritzburg United and Moroka Swallows up the N3.
But when Mccarthy nodded in the third goal midway through the second half, the title was back in Pirates’ grasp.
And the burly striker settled whatever nerves may have come in the closing stages – especially when Swallows went ahead at the Harry Gwala Stadium – when he curled in a wonderful free kick in injury time. As one, the massive throng of Pirates fans roared, and paper cut-outs of the league trophy were hoisted around the stadium.
At the final whistle, thousands of fans flooded on to the field, sending the celebrating players scurrying for the change-room.
Lekgwathi and his merry men eventually returned to accept their loot, then went on a giddy lap of honour for those who had stayed in their seats.
Perhaps it was inevitable that the final word was Mccarthy’s. Love him or hate him, the frontman always finds a way to steal the headlines. His brace and boisterous celebrations whipped up the mob in the crowd into a frenzy.
They say it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. But this season, it hasn’t been over until the so-called fat boy has scored. And he’s not done yet. “This is why I came back,” he said, beaming as brightly as his winner’s medal.