Quote of the week

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

Saturday, May 19, 2012

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

2 comments:

  1. hi my friend.

    why are not any transfer traffic from lesotho to south africa?

    http://footballminor.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a very good question Sir and unfortunately I can’t give you a clear answer. There should be more players from Lesotho in South Africa. But I think we need to improve the standard of our league first for that to happen.

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