Bizarre own goals hand Orlando Pirates Betway Premiership title as Orbit College relegated
FINAL MATCH DAY DRAMA
ORBIT College goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo scored one of the most bizzare own goals at the end of the first half to hand Yanela Mbuthuma's Orlando Pirates the lead during their Betway Premiership encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Image: BackpagePix
ORBIT COLLEGE (0) 0
ORLANDO PIRATES (1) 2
Nkomo (OG) 45', Ngiba (OG) 49'
Orlando Pirates dethroned Mamelodi Sundowns as Betway Premiership champions in bizarre fashion, beating and relegating the league's new boys, Orbit College, via two "spectacular" own goals at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
An own goal in each half from goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo and Ndumiso Ngiba cranked up the noise in a packed Mbombela Stadium as Pirates claimed their first league title in 14 years.
There were no blurred lines regarding the kind of game that was going to be played: an all-out attack from title-chasing Pirates, and a defence of steel from relegation-threatened Orbit.
Pirates needed nothing less than a straight win, while Orbit needed to avoid defeat at all costs to stand a chance of survival.
There was a noticeable drop in energy from the stands as the end of the first half neared with the scores level at 0-0.
But Nkomo had other plans and scored one of the most bizarre own goals, giving Pirates a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Barely five minutes into the second half, Ngiba netted another own goal to hand Pirates a 2-0 victory.
The league title completes a domestic trebble for Pirates as it adds to the MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles they won early in the season.