Orlando Pirates fled Chatsworth Stadium in Durban in police vans after losing 1-2 to Manning Rangers in a Coca-Cola Cup last 16 encounter on Sunday afternoon.
This was necessary after Bucs supporters showed their dissatisfaction over their team’s poor performance. Fuming Bucs spectators started to throw missiles in the dying minutes of the game after accepting that Rangers were through to the quarter finals of this lucrative competition.
This is the second time in a number of weeks that Pirates supporters have vented their anger.They showed their wrath when the Buccaneers drew with Silver Stars a fortnight ago.
The score on Sunday was 1-1 at the interval.
The home side were the first to score via a goal by Liswa Nduti, who headed in Abram Isaks’s free kick in the 10th minute.
Pirates equalised in the 34th minute through a controversial penalty taken by James Mothibi. Referee Daniel Bennet adjudged Nduti guilty of bringing down Jimmy Kauleza.
Nduti and Isaks were both given yellow cards for complaining about Bennet’s decision.
Rangers showed an exciting brand of football when they launched attacks with the veteran Welcome ”Mshini” Mazibuko combining well with Edson Minga. In the dying minutes of the first half Rangers nearly scored a second goal but Nduti’s overhead kick went just over the cross bar.
Pirates came close to taking the lead in the 51st minute when Steve Lekoelea crossed but Mothibi’s bicycle kick also went wide.
In search of a second goal Pirates coach Roy Baretto introduced Bennedict Vilakazi and Joseph for Elbert Dinha and Patrick Twala.
But it was Rangers who got the upper hand in the 71st minute through Minga. The goal came after Pirates goalie John Tlale failed to hold on to a flicked ball by Alton Meiring and the ball fell to Minga, who easily tapped into an open net. — Sapa