Pirates PSL Champions!

Golden Arrows………...(2) 2 (Sheppard 27, Mashego 29)

Orlando Pirates………...(2) 4 (Lekgwathi 26, Sangweni 40, McCarthy 61, 93)

Orlando Pirates... Champions again!

Benni McCarthy is a football genius, and he proved it once again today – and again on the biggest stage.  Many times throughout his wonderful career McCarthy has been written off, but he has just kept on keeping on. Form is temporary, class is permanent they say.

McCarthy’s two second half goals this afternoon sealed a thrilling 4-2 win over Golden Arrows and in the process clinched the Buccaneers’ second straight Absa Premiership title. It is also the second successive season in which the Sea Robbers have won three trophies, an unprecedented feat in the professional era in South Africa.

McCarthy’s goals have been crucial throughout the season, but he serves Pirates in so many other ways. In today’s match he was without doubt the player of the game.

McCarthy got his first goal after 61 minutes when he got in ahead of his marker to head past Arrows keeper Helton Da Rocha from a long throw-in special by Rooi Mahamutsa. The former Porto and Blackburn star then grabbed his brace in the third minute of added time, curling a wonderful free-kick from the edge of the area in the top corner. Bucs needed all three points to seal the title ahead of Moroka Swallows and things had looked somewhat dicey with the scores tied at 2-2 at halftime.

Gordon Igusund’s Swallows no doubt fought until the bitter end, beating Maritzburg United 1-0 in their final match of an entertaining PSL season. But in the end the Birds fell just short thanks to Pirates’ great team effort, and some Benni McCarthy brilliance.

Teams

Golden Arrows (4-4-1-1): Da Rocha; Zwane, Tom, Johannes, Mvalo; Ngobeni, Khuboni, Mlotshwa (Mbesuma 54th minute), Sheppard (Hadebe 84th minute); Nkosi (Van Heerden 70th minute); Mashego.

Orlando Pirates (4-4-1-1): Josephs; Matlaba, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Lekgwathi; Segolela, Manyisa, Jali, Klate (Chansa 74th minute); Mbuyane (Rantie 96th minute); McCarthy.

		Played	GD	Pts
C	Orlando Pirates	30	14	58
2	Moroka Swallows	30	14	56
3	SuperSport United	30	16	54
4	Mamelodi Sundowns	30	21	52
5	Kaizer Chiefs	30	12	50
6	Free State Stars	30	7	48
7	AmaZulu	30	8	41
8	Bloemfontein Celtic	30	3	41
9	Ajax Cape Town	30	-7	40
10	Platinum Stars	30	-2	36
11	Maritzburg United	30	-12	34
12	Bidvest Wits	30	-7	33
13	Golden Arrows	30	-9	32
14	Black Leopards	30	-22	29
15	Santos	30	-14	27
R	Jomo Cosmos	30	-22	19