Pirates' Last-Day Title Story Revisited

With Orlando Pirates presented with an opportunity to win the Betway Premiership title on Saturday, Soccer Laduma looks at previous occasions where Pirates were in this scenario and how they fared.

There was an anti-climax last weekend, where The Buccaneers needed to beat Durban City to be crowned champions with a game to spare, but they were frustrated to a goalless draw.

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The Soweto giants now need maximum points in their last game against Orbit College on Saturday, to be crowned champions for the first time in 14 years.

The weight of expectations can be overwhelming at the finishing line for any other team, and from Pirates' perspective, they almost bottled the 2000/01 league title, as they needed a win on the final match-day against Moroka Swallows and drew the encounter 1-1.

Fortunately for Pirates, rivals Kaizer Chiefs, who could have won the league with maximum points, also drew 0-0 with Golden Arrows on the same day, and The Ghosts beat Amakhosi by one point to the title.

The Buccaneers also had a chance to win the 2004/05 league title going into the final matchday, in contention with Chiefs yet again and getting maximum points was non-negotiable.

However, the side which was dubbed the 'Happy People', drew 1-1 with Umtata Bush Bucks, and on the same day, in matches played at the same time, Amakhosi beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 and beat Pirates to the league title by two points.

The league title was not in Pirates' favour on the final day of the 2010/11 season, but they were in contention, as they hoped leaders Cape Town Spurs (previously Ajax Cape Town) drop points so they could win.

And that is exactly what happened, as Spurs drew 2-2 with Maritzburg United and The Buccaneers won their final encounter 2-1 against Golden Arrows and were crowned champions on a superior goal difference.

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Ezimnyama also had a chance to win the 2018/19 league title, as they were neck-and-neck with Sundowns, but their 2-2 draw against Cape Town City on the penultimate match was damaging, as The Brazilians took a two-point lead going into the final day (both sides won their final matches, as Masandawana were crowned champions).