Ngele shines for Stars
Correspondent | Monday December 9, 2013 15:45
The loss is Pirates' third in cup finals this season, and their second to Dikwena, who beat the Buccaneers to the MTN8 earlier in the campaign.
Robert Ng'ambi had an early shot on target, bringing the ball down nicely in the area after being set up by Henrico Botes, but the Malawian popped his shot just over the bar.
Platinum Stars had the edge over Pirates in the first half, but failed to convert their chances - although each side had just two shots on target in the first 45. Solomon Mathe had a great chance on 15 minutes, after an enterprising run up the left by Luvolwethu Mpeta, who stole the ball off Tlou Segolela up the field, but the Dikwena midfielder fluffed his shot.
Soon after Pirates got in on the action, after Happy Jele made a run and got the ball through to Sifiso Myeni, but he could not get on the end of it under pressure from Vuyo Mere, who kicked the ball away. Tempers flared early on and the game started to become a very scrappy affair, but Pirates took control with a goal on 29 minutes.
Lucky Lekgwathi ran in from deep and arrived first to head home from Daine Klate's cross to put Bucs ahead. There were questions raised about the Bucs skipper being offside, but replays suggest he was on, by a hair, even though the other Pirates players in the frontline were offside.
Senzo Meyiwa had an awkward fall on 38 minutes, after punching the ball away under pressure and colliding with Jele. The keeper hit his head against Ng'ambi on the way down and landed on his neck, but was up his feet after some brief treatment.
Lennox Bacela, who was quiet in the first 45, tried his luck with a half-hearted overhead kick just before half-time, but his effort went wide.
With 45 seconds to go before half-time, Myeni earned a free-kick after he was brought down by Tshepo Gumede on the edge of the area. Klate stepped up to take the kick, and got the ball over the wall, but pulled it slightly wide.
Siyabonga Mpontshane kept Stars in the game after the restart, making an excellent reflex save to prevent an own-goal after a low cross from Klate.
Myeni then came close, after dribbling into the area, but Benson Mhlongo got a block on his shot.
On the hour mark Pirates went on a quick counter-attack, with Myeni racing up the wing, but he slipped and fell as he reached the area and was unable to get the ball to a well-placed Klate. On 62 minutes Khethowakhe Masuku was brough on for Segolela, and a few minutes later sent in a great ball through to the box, after Klate's free-kick, but neither Myeni or Mahamutsa could get a touch on it.
Roger de Sa then brought on Collins Mbesuma for Bacela on 70 minutes, and the burly Zambian had a half-chance on goal with his first touch, after getting into a promising position in the box.And a few minutes later Mbesuma sneaked in at the back post, but Mpontshane put the ball out for a corner-kick.
Platinum Stars brought themselves back in the game on 78 minutes, when after some neat passing play in the area, substitute Ngele managed to hold off Mahamutsa to finish from a tight angle, despite being under pressure from Meyiwa.
Ngele then put Dikwena in front for the first time in the match, after some fantastic work from Mbatha, who held off his marker to cut-back for Ngele, and he placed his shot into the top corner, giving Meyiwa no chance. (Kickoff)