After an initial scare at the ABSA Stadium in Durban The Amakhosi came back to haunt the Ghosts and wipe off the smiles of the happy people as Chiefs won South Africa’s premier Cup competition for the first time in six years. It all could have been much different as Pirates did most of the running and the Buccaneers were unfortunate not to have taken the lead early on when former Chiefs man Siyabonga Nomvete skipped past the static Chiefs defence and rattled the wood work.

Chiefs struggled and started out of the starting blocks as Pirates continued their early assault and ten minutes after seeing his shot knock the woodwork, Nomvete shot across goal when played in by Joseph Makhanya.

Chiefs looked content going into the break with the scores level, in the second half things turned around as Ernst Middendorp used David Obua in a more attacking position and also introduced striker Louis Agyemang. Chiefs looked more threatening going forward in the second half and Agyemang caused the pirates all sorts of difficulties, it was the Ghanaian who was involved in the talking point of the game.

After being fed through on the Pirates goal Agyemang was brought crashing to the ground by Collins Chabalala who was immediately given his marching orders by referee Ncobo. Chabalala was sent off on the stroke of full time, Chiefs were than reduced to ten men as Ditheko Mototo picked up his second yellow card of the game in the first half of extra time.

Chiefs were hard done by towards the end of extra time as Lebogang Mokoena looked to have handled the ball while trying to clear a Chiefs corner; the referee showed no interests in Chiefs protests and waved play on. As the game neared its conclusion Lebo Mbele brought the best out of Rowen Fernandez, who stretched across the face of goal to keep out the Democratic Republic of Congo striker.

During the penalty shoot out Chiefs experience came to the fore as David Radebe, Thabo Mooki, David Obua, Patrick Mayo and Rowen Fernandez converted their spot kicks. Fernandez thwarted Isaac Chansa to ensure Chiefs took home the honours and gained revenge for their loss to Pirates back in 1988.