Johannesburg - Thulasizwe Mbuyane's dramatic late goal helped Orlando Pirates to a breathtaking draw in Saturday's Soweto derby.
Rumour was rife in the build-up to the showdown that Mbuyane and Andile Jali would be unavailable for the FNB Stadium clash due to injury.
Vladimir Vermezovic refused to buy the Buccaneers' claims that their star players would miss out and even the best script writer might have found it too contrived to suggest that one of them would play a defining role. But that's exactly what Mbuyane did as his injury-time header cancelled out Kaizer Motaung Junior's early opener.
Ruud Krol's men were boldest in the opening exchanges and they also finished strongest top secure a vital point in the race for the title.
In the first few minutes Phenyo Mongala saw two shots charged down by Jimmy Tau and Valery Nahayo but once Chiefs settled, their geometrically precise passing and intelligent movement allowed them to gain the ascendancy, with Siphiwe Tshabalala forcing Lucky Lekgwathi to make a last-ditch challenge for which he was penalised just seven minutes in.
In the 10th minute Josta Dladla's mis-hit shot was picked up by Reneilwe Letsholonyane who unleashed a low shot that streaked just wide of Senso Meyiwa's upright.
After this warning shot, Amakhosi broke the deadlock with a deft passing move down the right flank. Dladla's smart pass fed Tau on the overlap and his delicious cross found Motaung Jr, who outjumped Happy Jele and Lekgwathi and buried his header beyond Meyiwa's reach.
Ruud Krol's outfit lacked the incisiveness of their old foes and they were consigned to long-range shots that barely troubled Itumeleng Khune.
Their best chance of the first stanza arrived in the 24th minute when Katlego Mashego capitalised on some superb approach play from Mbuyane, but 'Mahoota's' his effort from a tight angle flew across the face of goal and fizzed past Khune's far post.
Although the Glamour Boys controlled the contest and led at the break, Pirates came back at them in the second half and with 15 minutes left on the clock launched a furious onslaught on the Chiefs goal.
In the 76th minute Happy Jele sniped in and put the ball into the back of the net, only for the goal to be chalked off due to a tight offside call.
Three minutes later Mashego squandered an easy-to-score-than-miss chance, while Ndumiso Mabena made Khune earn his pay by forcing the goalkeeper to make a fine save.
In stoppage time Khune was at it again, this time his acrobatic dive allowed him to palm away Lekgwathi's header.
But there was a late twist to the narrative as Mabena's cross from the corner flag picked out the head of Mbuyane, whose header this time had the beating of Khune.
It was a sensational climax to the biggest match in South African football and a fitting result on the day, which sees Pirates reclaim their place at the summit of the standings.
Rumour was rife in the build-up to the showdown that Mbuyane and Andile Jali would be unavailable for the FNB Stadium clash due to injury.
Vladimir Vermezovic refused to buy the Buccaneers' claims that their star players would miss out and even the best script writer might have found it too contrived to suggest that one of them would play a defining role. But that's exactly what Mbuyane did as his injury-time header cancelled out Kaizer Motaung Junior's early opener.
Ruud Krol's men were boldest in the opening exchanges and they also finished strongest top secure a vital point in the race for the title.
In the first few minutes Phenyo Mongala saw two shots charged down by Jimmy Tau and Valery Nahayo but once Chiefs settled, their geometrically precise passing and intelligent movement allowed them to gain the ascendancy, with Siphiwe Tshabalala forcing Lucky Lekgwathi to make a last-ditch challenge for which he was penalised just seven minutes in.
In the 10th minute Josta Dladla's mis-hit shot was picked up by Reneilwe Letsholonyane who unleashed a low shot that streaked just wide of Senso Meyiwa's upright.
After this warning shot, Amakhosi broke the deadlock with a deft passing move down the right flank. Dladla's smart pass fed Tau on the overlap and his delicious cross found Motaung Jr, who outjumped Happy Jele and Lekgwathi and buried his header beyond Meyiwa's reach.
Ruud Krol's outfit lacked the incisiveness of their old foes and they were consigned to long-range shots that barely troubled Itumeleng Khune.
Their best chance of the first stanza arrived in the 24th minute when Katlego Mashego capitalised on some superb approach play from Mbuyane, but 'Mahoota's' his effort from a tight angle flew across the face of goal and fizzed past Khune's far post.
Although the Glamour Boys controlled the contest and led at the break, Pirates came back at them in the second half and with 15 minutes left on the clock launched a furious onslaught on the Chiefs goal.
In the 76th minute Happy Jele sniped in and put the ball into the back of the net, only for the goal to be chalked off due to a tight offside call.
Three minutes later Mashego squandered an easy-to-score-than-miss chance, while Ndumiso Mabena made Khune earn his pay by forcing the goalkeeper to make a fine save.
In stoppage time Khune was at it again, this time his acrobatic dive allowed him to palm away Lekgwathi's header.
But there was a late twist to the narrative as Mabena's cross from the corner flag picked out the head of Mbuyane, whose header this time had the beating of Khune.
It was a sensational climax to the biggest match in South African football and a fitting result on the day, which sees Pirates reclaim their place at the summit of the standings.