Orlando Pirates finished runner-up to their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs on the final day of the Castle Premiership season on Sunday.
The Buccaneers had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw against Bush Bucks, who scored at the death through Gomasha Marnilisi after Pirates had done all the attacking.
Pirates led 1-0 at half-time.
The Buccaneers — knowing that nothing less than victory would keep their title hopes alive — went on to the attack from the kick-off and had the East London based club in all sorts of trouble.
But it took an own goal from Sibusiso Dabi in the 12th minute to give the home side the lead. Dabi, under no pressure, headed Pirates’ Jimmy Tau’s cross into his own net.
Pirates stepped up a gear and were unlucky when Gift Leremi had a goal disallowed for offside in the 24th minute, when the striker looked to have scored from a legitimate goal.
Then Pirates had more bad luck when Gift Leremi struck the post in the 28th minute, with goalkeeper Tampungu Dikete well beaten.
A minute later, Tau came close when his rasping shot screamed over the crossbar.
With the news that Chiefs were leading 2-0 against Bloemfontein Celtic in Bloemfontein, the fight seemed to go out of Pirates. But it took two good saves from Bucks’ goalkeeper Tampumgu Dikete to stop Leremi scoring in the 59th and 75th minutes.
But insult was added to injury when Pirates defender Thabang Molefe was sent off late in the game and Bucks score with a late equaliser to hammer the final nail into Bucs’ league coffin.
Chiefs won the title with 62 points and Pirates finished second with 60 points. — Sapa