Lamontville Golden Arrows put up a superb fight but were beaten 4-2 by Absa Premiership champions Orlando Pirates in a thrilling match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday. 

Abafana Bes’thende led 2-1 midway through the first half, but The Buccaneers fought back to take the points and the League title on the final day. 

The home side netted through Dillon Sheppard and Katlego Mashego, while Pirates goalscorers were Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni and a brace from Benni McCarthy.

Golden Arrows were almost ahead in comical circumstances 15 minutes in when Mzuvukile Tom’s cross was met by Pirates defender Thabo Matlaba. But in trying to clear, the left-back sent the ball cannoning back onto his post.  Luckily for him it bounced away to safety, but it was a nervy moment for the visitors.

Pirates took the lead on 26 minutes though as Lekgwathi met Tlou Segolela’s cross with an excellent header that left Helton da Rocha in the home goal with no chance. 

That lead lasted just a minute though as Sheppard’s shot from 30-yards looked to be comfortable for birthday boy Moeneeb Josephs, but the Pirates keeper somehow spilled it into his own net. 

And just two minutes after that Golden Arrows were ahead. Former Pirate Mashego thundered in a free-kick from 35-yards that left a flaying Josephs with no chance.

The home side had striker Thamsanqa Gabuza sent from the bench in the aftermath of the goal celebrations, the fourth official feeling he had been a little too exuberant.   

Abafana Bes’thende were looking comfortable with their lead, but a loss of concentration four minutes before the break saw The Buccaneers draw level. 

Good play from McCarthy set up Daine Klate and his excellent cross was met by former Golden Arrows defender Sangweni for another headed effort.

Pirates came out on the attack in the second period and they were rewarded with a third goal as McCarthy got ahead of Da Rocha to head home from Rooi Mahamutsa’s long-throw. 

The visitors made the points safe when McCarthy scored his second, netting directly from a free-kick as he curled the ball around the Golden Arrows wall to seal the home side’s fate.

MATCH UPDATES

Lamontville Golden Arrows (2) 2 (Sheppard 27’ Mashego 30’)

Orlando Pirates (2) 4 (Lekgwathi 26’ Sangweni 40’, McCarthy 61’, 90’)

Golden Arrows: Da Rocha, Zwane (Hadebe 82’), Mvalo, Johannes, Tom, Mlotshwa (Mbesuma 54’), Ngobeni, Khuboni, Nkosi (Van Heerden 70’), Sheppard, Mashego

Orlando Pirates: Josephs, Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Matlaba, Segolela, Manyisa, Jali, Klate (Chansa 74’), Mbuyane, McCarthy