Kick off: 20h15

Orlando Pirates successfully defended their MTN8 crown as a lone Oupa Manyisa goal in extra time was enough to hand the Buccaneers a 1-0 win, Sthembiso Ngcobo came closest to finding the back of the net for Chiefs after his glancing header in the 83rd minute came close to handing the Amakhosi the victory.

It was a cagey start to the first half with the occasion seeming to get the better of both sides, Siphiwe Tshabalala did manage to whip in a cross from the left flank but neither of Josta Dladla or Lehlohonolo Major were able to get onto the end of his 17th minute lay-up.

The major talking point of the first coming midway through the first stanza, as Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune came sliding off his line to break up a Pirates attack, he spilt the ball the feet of Pirates attacker Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

He did manage to push Mbuyane out of his penalty area and chased after him before he was helped out by his defenders who came into knock the ball out for a throw in.

Four minutes before halftime Zhaimu Jambo hacked the ball towards Majoro from the left once more, the latter rising up to meet the ball but his header missed the target.

The second half like the first started at a slower pace Pirates opted to send crosses in from the flanks, but Khune was comfortable at cutting out the balls from the wings. Pirates brought Bongani Ndlulula on in the 58th minute and two minutes later he headed a Segolela corner from the left over Khune’s post.

Three minutes later and Ndlulula was in the thick of the action again as he kicked Dominic Isaacs off his feet as the pair attacked the ball, Pirates were looking dangerous in attack and had it not been for a superb bit of goalkeeping in the 70th minute Pirates could have been in front.

Isaacs gave away a free kick midway between the Chiefs 18 yard area and the half-way line, from the dead ball Siyabonga Sangweni rose up and headed the ball goal-wards, but for a one handed push over from Khune he could have been celebrating.

Seven minutes from the end of regulation time Chiefs substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo headed the ball wide of goal after Pirates keeper Moeneeb Josephs saved his initial effort, the major talking point of the game coming into referee’s optional time at the end of the second half.

Ndlulula was in the thick of the battle once again as he climbed up to meet a cross from the right, although his effort hit the back of the net the goal was ruled out as the referee adjuged him to have pushed into the back of Isaacs.

Twelve minutes into extra time and Bernard Parker’s in-swinging cross from the left was headed by Ngcobo into the path of fellow substitute Katsande, who hit the ball at the on the volley as it fell to him but his effort lacked direction and went wide of goal.

Two minutes into the second half of extra time Manyisa unleashed a shot from distance, it seemed to take an awkward bounce in front of the keeper and evaded Khune who had crouched down to block the ball and it went past the Chiefs keeper and into the net to hand Pirates the advantage.

A few minutes after conceding the goal Khune made up for it as dived full length across his goal to stop a powerful shot which skidded across the ground from Andile Jali.

In the final minute of extra time Reneilwe Letshonlyane’s free kick from the right hand by-line evaded the Pirates defenders, but neither of his teammates were able to make contact with the ball and Pirates held out to hold onto to their MTN8 crown.

Pirates become the first team since Chiefs in 1991 and 1992 to win the MTN8 in back to back seasons.

Line Up’s:

Orlando Pirates: 16. Moeneeb Josephs, 38. Ruben Cloete, 21. Siyabonga Sangweni, 14. Lucky Lekgwathi, 4. Happy Jele, 23. Tlou Segolela, 20. Oupa Manyisa, 5. Dikgang Mabalane (7. Klate 76’), 15. Andile Jali, 26. Ndumiso Mabena (9. Ndlulula 58’), 18. Thulasizwe Mbuyane (28. Mahamutsa 114’)

Cautions: 14. Lucky Lekgwathi 80’

Coach: Julio Leal

32 Itumeleng Khune,2. Jimmy Tau, 29. Zhaimu Jambo, 3. Thomas Sweswe, 5. Dominic Isaacs, 6. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala (31. Katsande 81’),9. Josta Dladla (11. Nale 110’), 20. Lehlohonolo Majoro (23. Ngcobo 64’), 25. Bernard Parker

Cautions: 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala, 5. Dominic Isaacs

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic

Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse

Assistant Coach: Arthur Zwane

Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker