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Benni McCarthy and Tokelo Rantie celebrate with teammates after they scored to beat Platinum Stars in Phokeng.

Platinum Stars (1) 3

Msomi 35, Nyanda 68, Thwala 90

Orlando Pirates (1) 4

Mkhabela 31-og, Sangweni 76, Rantie 79, McCarthy 86

A stirring 10-minute performance secured a much-needed victory for Orlando Pirates here last night, while probably also plunging Owen Da Gama’s future as Platinum Stars coach into darkness.

Both Da Gama and Julio Leal, the Pirates coach, had come into this Absa Premiership with the burden of discontent following poor results recently but it was the Stars coach who will not have had a lot of sleep last night as his team remained in relegation trouble following yet another defeat.

But the biggest source of Da Gama’s insomnia will have been the presence of Ruud Krol in this sparse Phokeng crowd, with television cameras showing the unemployed former Pirates coach – who for months has been linked with Stars – occasionally jotting down some notes.

It will thus not surprise should the Dutchman be unveiled by the Royal Bafokeng board as a replacement for Da Gama, albeit, in truth, Dikwena did not disgrace themselves in losing this seven-goal thriller.

Stars were always in the game and even took a deserved lead through Mduduzi Nyanda after 68 minutes, but a scintillating 10-minute period towards the end of the game sealed all three points for the Buccaneers.

It was triggered by substitutes Benni McCarthy and Tokelo Rantie, each of whom scored, as well as Tlou Segolela, whose pace breathed life into the Bucs attack.

An unfortunate own goal by Innocent Mkhabela had put Pirates ahead just after the half-hour mark, but Stars levelled through Sibusiso Msomi four minutes later in what was an early signal that we were in for an extraordinary evening in balmy North West conditions.

The Bucs defence was constantly under pressure, having to be bailed out by Moeneeb Josephs, who was unbelievably exceptional throughout.

Surprisingly dropped at the weekend, Josephs returned with some vengeance here, stopping certain goals to ensure Pirates remained in title contention.

The first of his brilliant saves came on the half-hour mark, when he thwarted Henrico Botes and then Thuso Phala in quick succession. Seconds later, Pirates were ahead through Mkhabela’s own goal, when the Stars man diverted a Dikgang Mabalane cross from the corner unwittingly past goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.

The hosts struck again when Nyanda, a Pirates product, profited from a Nathan Paulse assist before taking on the Bucs defence and beat Josephs.

Alas, the wheels came off for Stars following Leal’s brilliant reading of the game. The Brazilian introduced Segolela, McCarthy and Rantie, and all played a pivotal role in transforming the game in Pirates’ favour.

Siyabonga Sangweni made it 2-2 with a powerful header, and then the substitutes took over. Segolela first combined with Rantie and McCarthy, in a move that ended with Rantie putting Bucs ahead.

McCarthy then scored with a typically well-taken header on 86 minutes, after a great cross by Mabalane.

Lucas Thwala, on loan from Pirates, scored at the other end to make it 4-3. Sadly, though, it may also have been Da Gama’s last in charge of Dikwena. – The Star