LENNOX Bacela steered Orlando Pirates to the MTN8 final with an all-important equaliser that ended Kaizer Chiefs’ dream of winning a third successive PSL title.
Bacela scored the equaliser for the Bucs in their 1-1 draw with Chiefs in a second leg semifinal match at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
Pirates advanced to the R8-million final with a 2-1 aggregate win over the two legs after Daine Klate scored the solitary goal in the first leg match at FNB Stadium last month.
The Bucs will meet the winner of the other semifinal between Platinum Stars and BidVest Wits, who were scheduled to meet last night.
In yesterday’s game here, Pirates reshuffled their defence by resting their 38-year-old captain Lucky Lekgwathi. Thabo Matlala was relegated to the bench and Siyabonga Sangweni was handed the captain’s armband in Lekgwathi’s absence.
Lekgwathi – the most experienced player at Pirates – was allegedly only informed on Sunday night that he would be rested for the final and would play no part yesterday.
Patrick Phungwayo got a rare start operating in his specialist position on the left flank, which has been monopolised by Matlala.
As for Chiefs, Siboniso Gaxa was back in action from injury in place of midfielder Josta Dladla – who was converted to the right-back position in Saturday’s 2-1 league win over Platinum Stars where he also deservedly won man-of-the-match award – starting on the bench.
South Africa’s most popular and supported soccer fixture got off to a flying start with the two giants fighting hard to get an early goal.
Pirates dominated the midfield with Oupa Manyisa and Lehlogonolo Masalesa combining well in their build-ups but failing to break a Chiefs well-marshalled by Morgan Gould and company.
Chiefs’ most feared striker Knowledge Musona tested Senzo Meyiwa in the 15th minute with a thunderous shot but the Pirates number one goalkeeper brilliantly fisted it for a corner-kick.
Amakhosi broke the deadlock through Bernard Parker after a corner-kick by Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 36th minute.
This was after Meyiwa failed to hold the ball and an unmarked Parker was on hand to easily bang into an empty net.
Soon after the opening goal, the two coaches – Roger de Sa (Pirates) and his Chiefs counterpart Stuart Baxter – instructed their players on the bench to warm-up.
De Sa started the second half by introducing Sifiso Myeni for Tlou Segolela, who was struggling on the left wing because of lack of supply of the ball, which at times forced him to go to the right flank.
Myeni brought back Pirates into the game, giving Manyisa and Masalesa more freedom.
Baxter made a tactic change in the 57th minute by bringing on striker Kingston Nkhathat for midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi to add up the numbers upfront.
Pirates came close to scoring in the 67th minute but defender Happy Jele hit the crossbar with goalie Itumeleng Khune beaten.
The home side levelled matters in the 75th minute from the penalty spot, after Bacela sent Chiefs goalkeeper Khune the wrong direction.
It’s pure Bucs’ Cup magic
Bacela scored the equaliser for the Bucs in their 1-1 draw with Chiefs in a second leg semifinal match at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
Pirates advanced to the R8-million final with a 2-1 aggregate win over the two legs after Daine Klate scored the solitary goal in the first leg match at FNB Stadium last month.
The Bucs will meet the winner of the other semifinal between Platinum Stars and BidVest Wits, who were scheduled to meet last night.
In yesterday’s game here, Pirates reshuffled their defence by resting their 38-year-old captain Lucky Lekgwathi. Thabo Matlala was relegated to the bench and Siyabonga Sangweni was handed the captain’s armband in Lekgwathi’s absence.
Lekgwathi – the most experienced player at Pirates – was allegedly only informed on Sunday night that he would be rested for the final and would play no part yesterday.
Patrick Phungwayo got a rare start operating in his specialist position on the left flank, which has been monopolised by Matlala.
As for Chiefs, Siboniso Gaxa was back in action from injury in place of midfielder Josta Dladla – who was converted to the right-back position in Saturday’s 2-1 league win over Platinum Stars where he also deservedly won man-of-the-match award – starting on the bench.
South Africa’s most popular and supported soccer fixture got off to a flying start with the two giants fighting hard to get an early goal.
Pirates dominated the midfield with Oupa Manyisa and Lehlogonolo Masalesa combining well in their build-ups but failing to break a Chiefs well-marshalled by Morgan Gould and company.
Chiefs’ most feared striker Knowledge Musona tested Senzo Meyiwa in the 15th minute with a thunderous shot but the Pirates number one goalkeeper brilliantly fisted it for a corner-kick.
Amakhosi broke the deadlock through Bernard Parker after a corner-kick by Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 36th minute.
This was after Meyiwa failed to hold the ball and an unmarked Parker was on hand to easily bang into an empty net.
Soon after the opening goal, the two coaches – Roger de Sa (Pirates) and his Chiefs counterpart Stuart Baxter – instructed their players on the bench to warm-up.
De Sa started the second half by introducing Sifiso Myeni for Tlou Segolela, who was struggling on the left wing because of lack of supply of the ball, which at times forced him to go to the right flank.
Myeni brought back Pirates into the game, giving Manyisa and Masalesa more freedom.
Baxter made a tactic change in the 57th minute by bringing on striker Kingston Nkhathat for midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi to add up the numbers upfront.
Pirates came close to scoring in the 67th minute but defender Happy Jele hit the crossbar with goalie Itumeleng Khune beaten.
The home side levelled matters in the 75th minute from the penalty spot, after Bacela sent Chiefs goalkeeper Khune the wrong direction.
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