Bucs prevail in tense penalty shootout

Steve Komphela got his first taste of Soweto derby action as head coach yesterday, but did not get the result he was hoping for as Orlando Pirates beat league champions Amakhosi in the Carling Black Label Cup.

Dressed in a smart black suit in front of a crowd of close to 95 000, Komphela would not have been discouraged ahead of what ’s going to be a tough season after his men came from behind to take the game into a penalty shootout for a fourth time since its inception.

In a week in which Itumeleng Khune’s return was confirmed and Brilliant Khuzwayo suffered an injury a day before the game, third-choice shot-stopper Reyaad Pieterse got an opportunity to impress in goal but he was no hero in the shootout.

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However, he did fairly well in regulation time and was called on to save a Thamsanqa Gabuza shot 15 minutes into the game.

There was little he could do to stop Sifiso Myeni’s well-struck set piece after 20 minutes to give Bucs the lead.

When Myeni scored, Komphela stood up for the first time to remind his players there was a long way to go and that they could still come back.

Just in front of Pieterse, Amakhosi had the central pairing of Siboniso Gaxa and Siyanda Xulu, a different combination to the Eric Mathoho and Tefu Mashamaite partnership the supporters had become used to.

Xulu, signed from Russian club FC Rostov, was good and will improve as the season progresses.

He made some timely interceptions and is likely to be partnered with Mathoho in the MTN8 clash against Maritzburg United on Wednesday, with Gaxa returning to right-back.

There was no hard man in midfield for Amakhosi to protect the back four and tame Bucs captain Oupa Manyisa, who was often given freedom to run with the ball and look for an opponent without any pressure from a Chiefs midfielder.

They desperately needed Willard Katsande to do the dirty work in that anchorman role.

But hey, it’s the fans who voted for the starting lineup and it left their side in desperate need of a midfield grafter.

Probably aware that Pirates were dominating, Amakhosi fans voted Katsande as the first player on in the second half for George Maluleka, who struggled in the holding midfield role.

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With Katsande on, Amakhosi started playing the ball with more confidence and were back on level terms after 67 minutes when Reneilwe Letsholonyane coolly slotted home after a good build-up.

Upfront, Amakhosi were blunt. David Zulu, who was not given much of a chance by Stuart Baxter last season, was given an opportunity to impress in the starting lineup, but he was rusty and hardly ever a threat.

Siphelele Mthembu did not inspire any hope when he came on as a substitute. Komphela will hope that one of his strikers can at least get to double figures, but the question is, who can he rely on? Probably Bernard Parker, who had a decent game playing more as a No 10.

For Pirates, new signings Tendai Ndoro and Edwin Gyimah, both at Mpumalanga Black Aces last season, got on as substitutes. Pirates still have one spot left to register a player in the CAF Confederation Cup and Ndoro may get the nod after Thamsanqa Gabuza was taken off in the first half with an injury.

Another player hoping to get registered is defender Tshepo Gumede, who spent the second half of last season on the bench after signing from Platinum Stars.

He started the game in place of the injured Rooi Mahamutsa and had a good first half before Amakhosi found their rhythm in the second period.

Goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo proved he can be as good as the late Senzo Meyiwa at saving penalties, as he stopped two spot kicks to help Pirates secure a fourth Black Label title.

Orlando Pirates (1) 1

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1

Pirates won 4-3 on penalties

sports@timesmedia.co.za