Orlando Pirates 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3
(Ngcobo 12, 65, Tshabalala 72)
Those in black and white left Soccer City last night black and blue, so savage was the beating Orlando Pirates took from Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout final.
As Siphiwe Tshabalala romped through to hammer in a glorious third, at the same end he had opened Bafana Bafana’s World Cup 2010 account, the Amakhosi fans, already dancing in delight at their side’s display, hit a tipping point of total delirium.
Not only had Chiefs battered their great rivals, they had done so under cup final pressure, defending their Telkom Knockout title with a rivetting performance.
Pirates were seeking pay-back for their humiliation in the league last month, a 3-1 Absa Premiership defeat embarrassing enough for Ruud Krol’s men.
But if that was poor, this was pathetic, the Buccaneers utterly limp in attack, and as porous as rice paper at the back. After falling behind to an early strike from Sthembiso Ngcobo, Pirates never looked capable of finding a way back, and the only surprise was that it took Chiefs over an hour to inflict a killer blow.
Krol pulled out a surprise of his own before kick off when he dropped his captain, Lucky Lekgwathi from his starting XI. Lekgwathi had endured a nightmare against Musona in last month’s Absa Premiership derby, yet it still seemed a strange decision to leave a defender with such vast experience out of the side.
Lekgwathi had, after all, done well overall this season, and also played a key role in Pirates’ progress to the cup final, even contributing two crucial goals.
In any case, Krol’s decision made no difference whatsoever to Pirates’ ability to handle the Amakhosi’s mercurial striker. The 20 year-old might have given Chiefs the lead after just two minutes, but he scuffed Sthembiso Ngcobo’s cross wide of goal.
Moeneeb Josephs took over the Pirates captaincy in Lekgwathi’s absence, and continued the Buccaneers’ good grace towards Chiefs, as he helped gift the Amakhosi an early lead.
Josephs kicked a clearance under pressure from Musona straight to Ngcobo, who slammed an unerring finish past the Buccaneers ’keeper.
Pirates’ own striking talent, Otorogu, went into this game on a run of three goals in three matches, but was getting absolutely no change out of Valery Nahayo, who was simply sharper and stronger in the tackle.
Pirates were battling to get anywhere near Chiefs in attack, and when they did construct a moment of menace, Daine Klate releasing Rueben Cloete down the left to cross for Otorogu, Nahayo inevitably intervened.
Pirates did finally test Ituemeleng Khune in the 38th minute, Happy Jele’s header tipped over by the Bafana number one. But it was Chiefs who ought to have added a second, Ngcobo’s cross, headed over by Josta Dladla, when Musona, just behind Dladla, would surely have scored.
Ngcobo’s ball in was sublime, and the Chiefs attacker was having a probably his best game in a Pirates shirt, pulling the Buccanners back four all over the pitch.
Josephs had to get down well to deny Tshabalala after the break, as the Amakhosi continued to threaten.
Pirates huffed and puffed, but to little effect, and their fans grew increasingly disconsolate with coach Krol, booing as he took off Nigerian Ezenwa Otorogu, and then, amazingly, Andile Jali, who walked straight off the pitch and down the tunnel.
And the Amakhosi were effectively home and dry when Punch Masenamela crossed, and Ngcobo rose highest to power a header past Josephs.
FNB Stadium rocked to a gold and black fiesta, with the noise inside this great stadium hitting fever pitch, and it got even louder as Chiefs added a sublime third, Josta Dladla’s pass beautifully dummied by Ngcobo, for Tshabalala to slam gleefully home.
TEAMS
Pirates (4-4-2): Josephs; Jele, Mahamutsa, Johannes, Cloete; Klate, Jali, (Segolela 60) Ngobeni, Mabalane; Mbuyane, Otorogu (Mashego 56)
Chiefs (4-4-2): Khune; Tau, Nahayo, Sweswe, Masenamela; Dladla, Letsholonyane, Nengomasha, Tshabalala (Nale 90); Ngcobo (Yende 84), Musona (Motaung jr 89)
Referee: Victor Hlungwani
Assistants: Joel Morajane, Mantuse Nayo
Fourth Official: Lwandile Mfiki
Yellow cards: Mahamutsa 29, Ngcobo 65, Cloete 85