Pirates rise from the dead to take the game
STIRRING 10-minute performance secured a muchneeded 4-3 victory for Orlando Pirates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg last night, while probably also plunging Owen da Gama’s future as Platinum Stars coach into darkness.
Both Da Gama and Julio Leal, the Pirates coach, had come into this Absa Premiership with the burden of discontent after recent poor results, but it was the Stars coach who would have lost sleep last night as his team remained in relegation trouble after another defeat.
But the biggest source of Da Gama’s insomnia will have been the presence of Ruud Krol in this sparse Phokeng crowd, with television cameras showing the unemployed former Pirates coach – who for months has been linked with Stars – occasionally jotting down some notes.
It will thus not be a surprise should the Dutchman be unveiled by the Royal Bafokeng board as a replacement for Da Gama, although Dikwena did not disgrace themselves in losing this seven-goal thriller.
Stars were always in the game and even took a deserved lead through Mduduzi Nyanda after 68 minutes, but a scintillating 10minute period towards the end of the game sealed all three points for the Buccaneers.
It was triggered by substitutes Benni Mccarthy and Tokelo Rantie, each of whom scored, as well as Tlou Segolela, whose pace breathed life into Bucs’ attack.
An unfortunate own goal by Enocent Mkhabela had put Pirates ahead just after the half-hour mark, but Stars levelled through Sibusiso Msomi four minutes later in what was an early signal that we were in for an extraordinary evening.
Pirates had suffered a shock drubbing in their opening African Champions League tie against Angolan side Recreativo Libolo, and Leal responded by ringing the changes, although the absence of Andile Jali and Rooi Mahamutsa was injury-enforced.
One of the changes from last weekend’s fixture was Bheki Nzunga, fielded at rightback in the place of Mahamutsa, but the newcomer was given a baptism of fire, with the Bucs defence constantly under pressure and having to be bailed out by Moeneeb Josephs.
Surprisingly dropped at the weekend, Josephs returned with a vengeance here, stopping certain goals to ensure Pirates remained in title contention.
AThe first of his brilliant saves came on the half-hour mark when he thwarted Henrico Botes and then Thuso Phala in quick succession. Seconds later, Pirates were ahead through Mkhabela’s own goal, when the Stars man unwittingly diverted a Dikgang Mabalane cross from the corner past goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Stars drew level after Msomi fired a low but powerful shot beyond the reach of Josephs to ensure an exciting finale to the first half. It was to get even better in the second period, where remarkably five more goals were seen.
The hosts struck first in what looked like a welcome reprieve for Da Gama, when Nyanda, a Pirates product, profited from a Nathan Paulse assist before taking on the Bucs defence to beat Josephs.
Alas, the wheels came off for Stars following Leal’s brilliant reading of the game. The Brazilian introduced Segolela, Mccarthy and Rantie, and all played a pivotal role in transforming the game in Pirates’ favour.
Siyabonga Sangweni made it 2-2 with a powerful header following a poor Phala clearance from a corner, and then the substitutes took over. Segolela first combined with Rantie
PICTURE: GALLO IMAGES and Mccarthy in a move that ended with Rantie putting Bucs ahead.
Mccarthy then scored with a typically well-taken header on 86 minutes, following a great cross by Mabalane, although, again, Stars could have done better by clearing the initial ball. The culprit was Lucas Thwala, on loan from Pirates, but at least he atoned for his gaffe by scoring at the other end to make it 4-3. It could well have been 4-4 had Josephs not produced another magnificent save to deny Patrick Malokase in what was the very last kick of the game. Sadly, it may also have been Da Gama’s last in charge of Dikwena.