Orlando Pirates’ reign in the MTN8 came to a disappointing end as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in the final played at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Goals in each half from the Brazilians ensured that the Buccaneers missed out on what would have been an unprecedented fifth consecutive title following a bruising encounter at the picturesque venue in Durban.
Pirates began the contest with positive intent, enjoying most of the possession in the opening 10 minutes. Their bright start however did not produce much in the way of straightforward chances as Gamphani Lungu and Yanela Mbuthuma both went well wide with their efforts at goal.
Their opponents meanwhile took the first opportunity handed to them as they made the most of the Buccaneers’ failure to clear their lines following a set piece delivered into the box. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena was the man to deliver the finishing touch from close range after a scramble inside the penalty area.
Having conceded a rare early goal, the Soweto Giants needed a quick response but that was not forthcoming as their efforts were rebuffed by Sundowns. The opener was instead followed by error-strewn spell from the Buccaneers, who were fortunate not to find themselves two-goals down as Malibongwe Khoza and Thapelo Morena both went narrowly close to adding a second.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was the difference as the visitors sparked another chance. He pulled off an excellent save to deny Brayan León as he scurried across to keep out a deflected shot that looked bound to land inside the far post. This was moments before he produced another excellent stop, this time to keep out an effort from Nuno Santos.
Pirates meanwhile found some forward momentum with the break approaching, but neither Lungu nor Kamohelo Sebelebele could make it count.
The stop-start nature of the closing stages of the opening period meant that Pirates could not build on what was a promising spell, and went into the interval needing to make a forced change as Sebelebele was stretchered out following a rash challenge from Khulumani Ndamane. Oswin Appollis was the man introduced at the other side of the break when the right-back failed to re-emerge from the tunnel.
The Buccaneers went about looking to draw level after the restart and were not short of chances. The best of the lot came just before the hour mark when Mbuthuma was shoved inside the box by Mokoena with the referee pointing to the spot.
Lungu stepped up to convert, but was not able to level matters as Williams dived low to his left to keep out the spot kick.
The missed opportunity did not take the wind off the Buccaneers’ sails and sparked up a few more chances with Thalente Mbatha going just wide from close range. Sundowns had their own opportunities to pull further ahead as León misfired with only Chaine to beat when he got on the end of a swift counter attack.
Further chances fell to Pirates, who had another close call when Deon Hotto’s effort was kept out spectacularly by Williams. Second-half substitute Simphiwe Masilela nearly produced a moment of brilliance in the dying moments when he darted forward down the middle before going narrowly wide with his effort at goal.
What looked set for a blockbuster finish met an anti-climatic end as the referee awarded a soft penalty following what looked like an inauspicious challenge on Siyanda Ndlovu from Thapelo Mokobodi. Iqraam Rayners was entrusted with taking the spot kick, and fired past Chaine to make it 2-0.
That penalty turned out to be the final action of the game, capping a frustrating end to the Buccaneers’ title defence as they fell to their first defeat of the season.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Sebelebele (Appollis 46’), Hotto, Selepe (Masilela 73’), Mbatha (Nkota 82’), Mokobodi, Lungu, Moremi (Kgositsile 73’), Mbuthuma (Makgopa 73’).
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