Another Trophy For Treble Winners

10 September 2011

MTN 8

Date: 10 September 2011

Result: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Orlando Pirates (aet)

Venue: FNB Stadium

Referee: Victor Hlungwani

An Oupa Manyisa strike in extra time saw Orlando Pirates defend their MTN 8 title against Kaizer Chiefs at a packed FNB Stadium this evening. 

The nerves showed early as the Sowetan titans felt each other out with the R8-million prizemoney at stake producing some jittery passes from both sides. 

Pirates had the better of the possession of in the opening exchange but the Sea Robbers could not convert those positive percentages into opportunities. Siphiwe Tshabalala and Tinashe Nengomashe made a couple of beefy challenges on Andile Jali as Chiefs looked to cut the tireless midfielder out of the game.

Ndumiso Mabena, playing as a lone frontman, was getting very little support from Thulasizwe Mbuyane and the other Pirates forwards. There had not been a single strike on goal by the midway point of the first-half as both teams struggled to find the decisive ball in the final third.

Tshabalala conjured a bit of magic on the half-hour mark to find Lehlohonolo Majoro in the area but the striker's flick-on found its way into no-man's land and Pirates were able to clear the danger.

There was a let-off for Itumeleng Khune two minutes later when the Bafana number one uncharacteristically fumbles a ball meant for Mbuyane, but the Pirates forward was unable to make the most of the gift and passed the ball into touch. Mabena followed up Mbuyane's effort with a header that shaved the upright as the Sea Robbers began to establish dominance in the latter stages of the half. 

There was action at the other end as Majoro came close to notching up his fourth goal of the season with a well-directed header. The former AmaZulu marksman looked threatening on the rare occasion when he was able to get decent service.

Jali was on the receiving end of another clattering tackle from Josta Dladla as referee Victor Hlungwani brought an end to the half with a noticeable lift in tempo.

Reuben Cloete skied a free-kick high over the crossbar early in the second stanza after Oupa Manyisa was cynically tripped by Tomas Sweswe.

Dikgang Mabalane did little better on the hour when he fired a speculative effort off into the stands instead of threading the ball through for substitute Bongane Ndulula. The winger had the good fortune to see his shot deflected off a Chiefs defender and Siyabonga Sangweni's header from the resulting corner was the closest either team had come to scoring.

Only desperate defending from Dominic Isaacs and Jimmy Jambo prevented the Bucanneers from taking a deserved lead as the men in black began to rack up the chances. Ndulula had latched onto an exquisite cross from Tlou Segolela but his heavy first touch gave the Chiefs defenders an opportunity to recover.

Sangweni got another header on target in the 70th minute and Khune had to get airborne to tip it over the crossbar as Pirates edged closer and closer to that elusive opener.

Substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo had Moeneeb Josephs scrambling five minutes from time with an accurate shot from outside the area and a rising header that went into the side netting. The lanky striker showed that the Naturena outfit were still in with a shot despite being on the rack for much of the half.

Lekgwathi and Happy Jele both produced speculative efforts from range in the dying moments of the game but did little to trouble Khune. Ndulula had the ball in the net in injury time with a towering header but Victor Hlungwani made the brave and controversial call to disallow the goal for pushing. 

Pirates continued to pile on the pressure into extra time with Mbuyane coming close with a powerful albeit off-target strike from the right side of the area. New Chiefs signing Willard Katsande used his fresh legs to rise above the Pirates defence and get in a header soon after; Andile Jali fired off a missile from outside the area as the Soweto giants traded shots in anger.

Katsande came close again ten minutes into extra time, making space for himself before going close with a piercing drive. The Zimbabwean was winning his new fans over with his industry.

The goal that Pirates had been threatening eventually came courtesy of one Oupa Manyisa who had made a point of working on his shooting, got his second in as many games with a opportunistic long-range strike that snuck in at Khune's near post. The Chiefs gloveman's error was enough to give Pirates their first trophy of the season as they look to defend silverware on three fronts. 

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Isaacs, Sweswe, Jambo, Dladla (Nale 110'), Letsholonyane, Tshabalala (Katsande 81'), Nengomashe, Majoro (Ngcobo 63'), Parker

Orlando Pirates: Josephs, Lekgwathi, Cloete, Sangweni, Jele, Jali, Manyisa, Segolela, Mabalane (Klate 76'), Mbuyane (Mahamutsa 123'), Mabena (Ndulula 58')

Goal: Oupa Manyisa 107' (Pirates)