Pirates lift Vodacom Cup 2005
Brad Morgan
25 July 2005
Orlando Pirates edged out their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at a jam-packed Absa Stadium in Durban on Sunday to become the 2005 Vodacom Challenge Cup champions.
It was a win the Buccaneers desperately wanted after Chiefs came from behind to snatch the PSL title that had seemed bound for the Sea Robbers last season.
Kosta Papic's charges were full value for their victory, dominating play from the opening whistle, and using the ball well right across the park.
Early pressure
The early pressure came from Pirates, but they were unable to crack the Amakhosi defence open. After a while the contest settled into a bit of a battle in midfield.
Midway through the first half and within the space of a minute both teams came close to scoring. Firstly Bucs' goalkeeper Francis Chansa needed help from Tonic Tsabalala to prevent John "Shoes" Mosheou from netting for Chiefs. Then, Rowen Fernandez, at the other end,
needed a stunning one-handed save to keep Davis Mwape from putting Pirates in front.
However, after 38 minutes, Pirates finally went ahead.
Bucs ahead
Onyekachi "Chico" Okonkwo found Lebogang Mokoena with a beautifully weighted, lofted pass to the right. He, in turn, cut the ball back inside, and impressive newcomer Lelo Mbele was on hand to sweep the ball home.
Just before the break Chiefs were lucky not to find themselves two goals down when Joseph Makhanya made a hash of his shot on goal after Mbele had found him with a superb cross. It would have been a well deserved goal for Makhanya, who caused the Chiefs' defence plenty of problems down the right flank.
Early in the second stanza Pirates again took the game to Chiefs, forcing Amakhosi netminder Rowen Fernandez into action on a number of occasions.
With just over 20 minutes to go, Pirates' coach Papic substituted Steve Lekoelea and Perry Mutapa for Lebogang Mokoena
and Joseph Makanya. His decision was almost instantly rewarded.
Within sight of victory
Lekoelea, after finding himself in space on the right, picked out Davis Mwape with a nice cross, and Mwape beat Fernandez to put the exclamation mark on a successful Pirates' counter-attack. It put the Buccaneers two-up and within sight of victory.
Chiefs fought hard until the end and were rewarded for their efforts when David Radebe converted an excellent cross from Bevan Fransman, who enjoyed a solid outing. It wasn't enough, though, as Pirates celebrated a sweet victory.
Had it not been for a fine performance by Fernandez in the Chiefs' goal, Pirates could have easily won by a far more emphatic margin.
The Kudu Horn
Pirates picked up R1-million for their winning effort and won the Kudu Horn Trophy for the first time since the tournament began in 1999.
New signing Lebo Mbele was again very impressive
for the Bucs, while Lebogang Mokoena did excellent work out wide, and Tonic Tshabalala marshalled the defence well from his position in the centre of the backline.
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