Orlando Pirates Are The MTN-8 Champions.

[caption id="attachment_2248" align="alignright" width="468" caption="Up The Bucs! Happy People "][/caption]

Orlando Pirates are Happy People after beating Moroka Swallows in a penalty shoot-out in the The 2010 MTN-8 final that took place at the magnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium on a warm night in a Soweto derby away from Soweto, 4-2. The match started in a lively manner, both teams trying to settle first.  

However, play was well-balanced with Pirates dominating possession but Swallows getting more chances. The Bucs defence retreated into the box and allowed more threatening moments with Siyabonga Nomvethe in the kitchen more often. They entered The Birds' nest slowly and unconvincingly in the timing of their crosses. Thulasizwe Mbuyane was too wasteful.

Then came the big moment when a penalty awarded to Pirates was scored by Diane Klate. The referee did not have the guts to send off the goalkeeper Mathibe, just showing him a yellow and not red card, a situation deserving to be termed a scandal. From there on, Pirates dominated everything but were not converting any chances that came their way, being just  too wastefully.

The second half became an extension of the first in terms of The Happy People wastage. The full house at the Moses Mabhida Stadium was however treated to mediocre football as both teams  resorted to kick and rush tactics. The passing became too erratic and long balls were excessively used. Neither coach seemed to have match changing tactics.

Tlou Segolela and Katlego Mashego came in for Pirates, but the Sea Robbers failed to fully utilise the pair early on, spraying their passes astray with regularity. Clifford Mngomeni came in and stabilised play for the Ghosts. They took charge of the match in the dying minutes and brought Segolela into play.

The Dube Birds did not let the matters laying down. A dead ball of very high standard beat Monoeeb Josephs hands down with 5 minutes on the clock remaining. Mashego scooped a nice set up over the bar from close range 2 minutes later. Swallows enjoyed a new lease of life and threw everything into attack for the remainder of the dying regulation time  minutes. 

Extra time was another lukewarm affair with ever bewildering mediocrity especially by Pirates. There was not much to write home about during the whole boring 30 minutes and the story was to be decided by penalty kicks. Nomvethe blasted his penalty over the crossbar as Pirates scored a 100% of their spot-kicks. Lucky Lekgwathi nailed the final nail in the coffin in a very fair moment usually likened to lice belly button. It was a happy night for Happy People as there was no one to 'Follow the Birds'.