McCarthy's overhead kick gave the Buccaneers the winner in the 75th minute - five minutes after coming on
IN WHAT is becoming a routine for Orlando Pirates coach Julio Leal lately, The Ghost forced the Brazilian to ring changes to his line-up by bringing Benni "Magic Feet" McCarthy off the bench against Maritzburg United yesterday.
The substitution paid dividends, with McCarthy's overhead kick giving the Buccaneers the winner in the 75th minute - five minutes after coming on - while donning the captain's armband.
In Lucky Lekgwathi's absence, Pirates goalie Moeneeb Josephs was made captain, but he ran half the length of the pitch to pass it on to McCarthy when the former Bafana man came on in the 70th minute.
Leal had opted to put his trust in Luis Boa Morte, who was making his first full home debut, and the misfiring Ndumiso Mabena.
That partnership hardly worked as Mabena fluffed the opportunity to put Pirates in the lead in the fourth minute with only goalkeeper Francis Chansa to beat.
The rest of the first half was flat, with few chances at both ends but players and those that did come along wasted. Then the fans began chanting for changes: "Benni, Benni, we want Benni!"
Leal heard their cry, as any coach under pressure to win a home game in a bid to keep Absa Premiership title hopes alive would.
Dikgang Mabalane, who had continuously threatened the Maritzburg defence with his impressive crosses, picked out McCarthy, who had just come on for Rudolf Bester, a former Maritzburg striker.
It was vintage McCarthy, finishing superbly to hand Pirates maximum points and push them up to third on the log, equal with Kaizer Chiefs on 33 points, but the Amakhosi have a better goal difference.
Maritzburg were also dealt a major blow in the second half when defender Peter Petersen was shown a second yellow card 62nd minute.
In Free State, Platinum Stars registered their second successive league win over Bloemfontein Celtic, winning the match 1-0 at Botshabelo Stadium yesterday, reports Thabo Johnson.
Innocent Mkhabela scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute. Dikwena won the first-round match 2-0 in North West in August last year.
The last time Stars won a match in the PSL was on October 15 when they hammered Santos 4-1 at Moruleng Stadium, near Sun City.
Stars coach Owen da Gama attributed the victory to hard work by the players who he complimented for a job well done.
"This is a win for the Royal Bafokeng nation, we dedicate it to them for supporting us. We will always do our best to ensure the team is successful," said Da Gama.
Benni the super sub
McCarthy's overhead kick gave the Buccaneers the winner in the 75th minute - five minutes after coming on
IN WHAT is becoming a routine for Orlando Pirates coach Julio Leal lately, The Ghost forced the Brazilian to ring changes to his line-up by bringing Benni "Magic Feet" McCarthy off the bench against Maritzburg United yesterday.
The substitution paid dividends, with McCarthy's overhead kick giving the Buccaneers the winner in the 75th minute - five minutes after coming on - while donning the captain's armband.
In Lucky Lekgwathi's absence, Pirates goalie Moeneeb Josephs was made captain, but he ran half the length of the pitch to pass it on to McCarthy when the former Bafana man came on in the 70th minute.
Leal had opted to put his trust in Luis Boa Morte, who was making his first full home debut, and the misfiring Ndumiso Mabena.
That partnership hardly worked as Mabena fluffed the opportunity to put Pirates in the lead in the fourth minute with only goalkeeper Francis Chansa to beat.
The rest of the first half was flat, with few chances at both ends but players and those that did come along wasted. Then the fans began chanting for changes: "Benni, Benni, we want Benni!"
Leal heard their cry, as any coach under pressure to win a home game in a bid to keep Absa Premiership title hopes alive would.
Dikgang Mabalane, who had continuously threatened the Maritzburg defence with his impressive crosses, picked out McCarthy, who had just come on for Rudolf Bester, a former Maritzburg striker.
It was vintage McCarthy, finishing superbly to hand Pirates maximum points and push them up to third on the log, equal with Kaizer Chiefs on 33 points, but the Amakhosi have a better goal difference.
Maritzburg were also dealt a major blow in the second half when defender Peter Petersen was shown a second yellow card 62nd minute.
In Free State, Platinum Stars registered their second successive league win over Bloemfontein Celtic, winning the match 1-0 at Botshabelo Stadium yesterday, reports Thabo Johnson.
Innocent Mkhabela scored the only goal of the match in the 27th minute. Dikwena won the first-round match 2-0 in North West in August last year.
The last time Stars won a match in the PSL was on October 15 when they hammered Santos 4-1 at Moruleng Stadium, near Sun City.
Stars coach Owen da Gama attributed the victory to hard work by the players who he complimented for a job well done.
"This is a win for the Royal Bafokeng nation, we dedicate it to them for supporting us. We will always do our best to ensure the team is successful," said Da Gama.
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