Orlando Pirates lost their second match in a week in similar a fashion as they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by African champions Hearts of Oak in the Vodacom Challenge third place play-off at Absa Park on Sunday.

The match ended goalless with Hearts clearly dominating and could have easily settled the match in regulation time. Credit must however go to young Pirates goalkeeper Thabang Radebe who was brilliant in the second half.

Radebe made a couple of brilliant saves to keep the score intact until the penalty shootout.

Pirates started the shootout positively with Phumlani Mkhize easily converting and Innocent Chikoya doing like wise. But the third and fourth spot kicks condemned Pirates to another painful defeat as both Rodney Petlele (hit upright) and Benedict Vilakazi (saved) could not find the back of the net.

Hearts only missed one penalty with Sam Monnie’s efforts safely going into Radebe’s hands but Dan Quaye put the matter beyond Piraes’reach with his last penalty kick.

Pirates coach Gordon Igesund put his trust on the youngsters but when they failed to pull through against Ghana’s Hearts of Oak, he called on to the more experienced players later in the second half.

Igesund started the match mostly with new players. The only experienced regulars were captain on the day Papi Khomane and Pirates’ player of the season Benedict Vilakazi.

But when the Pirates ship failed the take off with the new faces, Igesund resorted to his regulars. Denis Lota came on for Simon Makhubela, Phumlani Mkhize for Lesley Manyathela and Innocent Chikoya for Phlani Kubheba in a second half triple substitution.

Thabang Lebese was later introduced for Joseph Makhanya on 58 minutes

Owusu Afriyie, who was later substituted by Ken Sarpong in the second half, was a constant thorn in the Pirates flash on the right flank playing with such confidence, which could have easily been mistaken for arrogance.

Captain of the Pirates ship on the day Khomane and his men at the back were constantly tormented by Afriyie and Philani Kubheka humiliated with a “shibobo” on 38 minutes and his frustrations got his a yellow.

Khomane did not finish the match as he was forced out by an injury on 66 minutes and Carlos Baute was roped in to fill his place.

Pirates lost to Asante Kotoko in the semifinals played in Rustenburg last Saturday. The Buccaneers are now without a victory in their last three matches following a defeat by rivals Kaizer Chiefs in their last match of the season.

Monnie had the best chance to give the Ghanaians a winner with six minutes on the clock but hesitated and released a weak shot, which was easily saved by Radebe.

The match however, provided Igesund with an opportunity to look at his new signings and some of the youngsters promoted from the junior teqams.

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: 1-Thabang Radebe, 6-Mbulelo Oldjohn, 2-Thabo Phiri, 3-Papi Khomane (captain), 24-Joseph Makhanya, 19-Rodney Petlele, 8-Andile Cele, 7-Philani Kubheka, 5-Benedict Vilakazi, 22-Lesley Manyathela, 9-Simon Makhubela.

Hearts of Oak: 1-Sammy Adjei, 26-Mireky Amankwa, 13-Hassan Mohammed, 23-Dan Quaye, 17-Stephen Tetteh, 30-Laryea Kingston, 24-Owusu Afriyie, 29-Adja Tetteh, 15-Charles Benson, 28-George Eranio, 14-Bernard Bortey.