Zambian coach manning a South African side Wedson Nyirenda made history on Saturday by guiding Baroka FC to securing their Telkom Knockout Cup after defeating Orlando Pirates on penalties as the clash ended in an exhilarating 2-2 draw.

Nyirenda who is also a former Zambia National Team coach headlined Zambian tabloids when he booked a debut spot in the final match of the cup after his side fixed rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in a Soweto Derby of the semifinal.

The start of the final match was not without exceptional liveliness that indicated that the two sides would only accept defeat after the final whistle. Baroka got the much needed chance to take lead but their skipper Mduduzi Mdantsane cheaply lost possession to Thembinkosi Lorch who paced for a one-on-one chance with Baroka goalkeeper but, the goalie performed as his duty demanded and stopped the attempt. It was a denied golden opportunity for Pirates.

From numerous goal threats that Baroka suffered at the hands of Pirates, Nyirenda’s side responsively upped the tempo and forced the opponents to park a bus but could not find the key to unlock their goal account.

Seconds to the break, Nnyirenda’s boys found the back of the net through an aerial ball that was directed in by Jemondre Dickens. Minutes before the goal was scored, Pirates suffered a one man down challenge as defender Marshall Munetsi was given a straight red card for a dangerous lunge.

In the second half, Orlando Pirates fought against the disadvantaging fact of being one man down and almost equalized in the 47th minute in an attempt that went way over the bar. Two minutes after Pirates’ wasted chance, Baroka soaked into the same misuse of the opportunity as Tebogo Sodi fired his above the bar with only one defender to beat.

However, Pirates levelled matters when Musa Nyatama tapped in a Justin Shonga well-struck set-piece that came off the post and the back of the Baroka goalkeeper.

The two sides, thereafter fought from side to side but neither could break the 1-1 tie in the required 90 minutes. They eased and stretched as they awaited extra 30 minutes to hopefully have a winner.

Baroka scored their second goal in the 108th minute of extra time from the spot when Mpontashane brought down Sodi in the box. It seemed Nyirenda’s boys would edge Pirates 2-1, but rivals equalized through Lorch’s header that emanated from Shonga’s cross in the dying minutes of extra time. It was 2-2. Baroka however laughed last as they beat Orlando Pirates 3-2 in penalties with a winner scored by Chipezeze.