It had to go to the wire but Supersport on Saturday did enough to retain their Absa Premier Soccer League title. Gavin Hunt and his charges forced a hard fought 0-0 draw against Santos to starve the challenge of a determined Orlando Pirates.
Pirates routed AmaZulu 3-1 but it proved too late to wrest the title from Matsatsantsa. Thulasizwe Mbuyane weighed in with a double while Katlego Mashego added the other for the Bucs. Bradley Ritson’s consolation for Usuthu ensured the fans that thronged Coca-Cola Park enjoyed the last match of the season.
Still, needing nothing short of a victory and for Supersport to lose against Santos, Pirates’ mission impossible was only half fulfilled as the draw in Cape Town dashed their hopes.
Although both clubs finished with 55 points, the Pretoria outfit took the R10-million winners cheque courtesy of a superior goal difference. The Bucs will live to rue the past two matches in which they threw away four vital points after playing to draws.
The PSL management committee were a relieved lot after correctly predicting the winner. They were faced with the dilemma of keeping the Absa trophy at the Pirates match or in Cape Town. They opted for the coastal city, perhaps taking into account the consistency of Hunt’s charges this season.
It is not all doom and gloom for the Soweto giants as they will join Supersport in the Champions League next year. Pirates won the biggest club competition in 1996 and will relish the chance of another shot at the crown.