It was sweet and emphatic revenge for Orlando Pirates as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Vodacom Challenge Final at Absa Stadium on Sunday and dominated the team who had edged in front of them at the last hurdle in last season’s Premier League title race.
And the final scoreline before a capacity 50 000 crowd flattered Chiefs, if anything, with the Amakhosi’s solitary goal from substitute David Radebe belatedly coming in referee’s optional time as the Buccaneers prematurely loosened their grip on the proceedings for the first time in the throbbing game.
Pirates supporters and officials hugged each other in glee after the final whistle and if this relatively lesser success will not quite erase the nightmare of surrendering the PSL championship after at one stage heading the log by 11 points, it was a moment to savour for the Buccaneers.
Not only were Pirates R1-million richer by virtue of pocketing the tournament’s first prize as they became the recipients of the eye-catching Kudu Horn trophy, but it was also their first triumph in the competition since the inaugural event in 1999.
Pirates’ new livewire DRC striker Lebo Mbele opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a stunning first-time shot following an equally stunning breakaway by Lebohang Mokoena.
And the Buccaneers virtually clinched the issue in the 72nd minute when substitute Steve Lekoelea’s pin-point cross was deflected into the net from close-range by Davis Mwape.
It has not been often in recent years that Pirates have overshadowed their intense Soweto rivals to such an extent and but for the heroic goalkeeping of Rowen Fernandez, who saved imminent goals on no fewer than five occasions, the final outcome could have been something of a rout.
Perhaps in the belief that Fernandez was indeed a ”miracle maker”, Chiefs entrusted their final free-kick from the edge of the penalty area to their goalkeeper with only seconds of the game remaining.
But Fernandez’s shot sailed over the crossbar and what would have been a gross injustice was averted as Pirates experienced one of their few anxious moments in the match.
Apart from Fernandez, the gangling Bevan Fransman performed yeomen work in the Chiefs’ defence.
But it was a day for Pirates to reap most of the accolades, with the two ”Lebos”, Mbele and Mokeona, outstanding, Benedict Vilakazi excruciatingly unlucky not to claim a goal or two and Tonic Tshabalala a tower of strength in the defence. – Sapa