Soweto - Substitute midfielder Isaac Chansa was the hero for the hosts when he thundered in a shot that handed Orlando Pirates the Absa Premiership title after they beat Golden Arrows 2-1 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Chansa, who had looked ineffective when he came on for the injured Bongani Ndulula shortly after the hour mark, netted from 25 metres out in the 85th minute to send the nearly 20,000 home crowd into a frenzy.

In scenes not seen since the 1980s at the Pirates stronghold, the elated Ghost, as the Buccaneers' supporters are known, flocked the field in song and dance as they ran to embrace their players after the final whistle.

Ndulula opened the scoring in the 38th minute after good work from midfielder Andile Jali who found the lanky striker with a cross from the left.

Arrows, however, equalised in the 41st minute through Collins Mbesuma who rose over the Pirates central defensive pairing of Rooi Mahamutsa and Robyn Johannes to fashion in a textbook header.

Heading into the final day of the league season, the title was still hotly contested by Ajax Cape Town (59 points), Orlando Pirates (57 points) and Kaizer Chiefs (56 points).

First-placed Ajax would have sealed victory and an inaugural championship had they beaten Maritzburg United in a simultaneous fixture, but choked to draw 2-2.

Pirates and Ajax each assembled 60 points from 30 matches, but Bucs lifted the title with a superior goal difference.

The Buccaneers lacked fluidity against Arrows and the match got off to a sedate start.

For the first time this season, Mark Mayambela was given a start by coach Ruud Krol and nearly came good for his side in the 27th minute.

The winger drew a save from goalkeeper Helton de Rocha with a shot taken inside the box.

Scores were level at 1-1 at half-time, and Pirates attacked after the break, but the troublesome Ndulula failed to connect cleanly with a header from a crisp cross from Tlou Segolela on the left flank.

With news filtering to the stadium that Ajax were level at 1-1 with Maritzburg, Pirates pushed forward.

Opportunities for Mbuyane and Segolela, who took two shots, were nonetheless all fired narrowly wide of the target.

Against the run of play, Arrows could have taken the lead with the burly Mbesuma twisting and turning to fashion a shot that sailed wide, and Pirates eventually broke clear to secure the win.

While Arrows' season officially came to a close, Pirates were set to continue their treble ambitions with a clash against Black Leopards in the Nedbank Cup final in Nelspruit next weekend.