It's a Pirates vs Spurs final
Brad Morgan
27 July 2007
Orlando Pirates earned a second shot at English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur to determine the winner of the 2007 Vodacom Challenge, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in Port Elizabeth on Thursday evening.
The win over their local archrivals gives Pirates with an opportunity similar to the one Chiefs profited from in the 2006 Vodacom Challenge when, after losing 1-0 to Manchester United in their first match, Chiefs beat Pirates 2-0 to set up another clash with the Red Devils - which they won on penalties.
Pirates tackle Spurs in the final of this year's three-club tournament at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Sunday. Chiefs, meanwhile, will be reflecting on their third pre-season friendly loss in succession.
Classy goal
Although Thursday's Port Elizabeth clash wasn't a showdown of high quality, it was decided by a classy goal 13 minutes into the second half.
Lebohang Mokoena initiated the
move, sending an insightful ball through to Bennett Chenene, who responded to the opportunity the pass created by blasting a volley into the far corner.
On the balance of play, the Buccaneers were deserving winners, creating more chances than the Amakhosi. Had it not been for some woeful finishing, they could have easily scored a number of other goals.
Misses
The misses started early on, when striker Ralph Matema was just wide of the mark with a header in the third minute after a good cross from the right.
Chiefs created a half-chance after 18 minutes, with Shaun Bartlett racing onto a through ball. Francis Chansa in the Buccaneers' goal spotted the danger early, however, and flew off his line to fist the ball away.
Pirates full-back Lucky Legwathi then had a superb opportunity to put his team in front, but after picking up the ball from a corner inside the box, and with only the goalkeeper to beat, he fired wide of the
target.
Tipped away
With halftime drawing near, Thabo Mooki brought out the best in Chansa with a powerful free-kick that the 'keeper tipped away for a corner.
The teams went into the break level at nil-nil, but early in the second stanza Chenene struck for Pirates.
Only three minutes later Mokoena, the provider of the goal, beat three Chiefs' defenders with some good close skills, but then fired just wide of the left post with the Amakhosi goalkeeper Markus Bocsker exposed.
Pushing for the equaliser
Needing to score to get back into the match, Chiefs' coach Muhsin Ertugral took off defender Patrick Mayo, bringing on midfielder David Mathebula in his place, to try and add more thrust to the team’s attack.
As fulltime approached, Pirates opted for a protect-the-lead approach, which allowed Chiefs to put their great rivals under pressure.
With six minutes remaining, Mabuthi Khanyeza had
an opportunity to get his team back into the game when he was picked out on the edge of the box, but his shot went over the Pirates' crossbar.
Victory ... at last
The Buccaneers kept their defence intact, holding firm to record their first win over Chiefs since the 2005 Vodacom Challenge final.
The Soweto giants will have only two days' rest before facing Tottenham Hotspur at Loftus Versfeld in front of what is sure to be an enthusiastic crowd.
Coach Bibey Mutombo, despite having faced the English club on Tuesday, won't be sure what his team will be up against, considering that only three players who started the Lilywhites' match against Kaizer Chiefs started against Pirates.
Nonetheless, his side has had a taste of the English side's approach and they'll be aiming to use the knowledge they gained effectively by turning the tables on Tottenham in Pretoria.
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