Orlando Pirates survived a bizarre sending-off to beat Black Leopards 2-1 in Polokwane on Monday night.
Striker Thamsanqa Gabuza was sent off after losing his cool with Bucs fans after they jeered the hitman for missing a number of goalscoring chances.
But after Gabuza forced his team’s opener – his 34th-minute shot being turned in by Leopards defender Thivhavhudzi Ndou – the Bafana Bafana striker went bos.
He raced off the field, pulled off his shirt, threw it into the crowd and then muscled his way past coach Micho and into the dressing room with over 10 minutes left to play in the first half.
Gabuza returned to the pitch after half time with his thigh heavily strapped, but was shown two yellow cards by referee Thando Ndzandzeka.
Luckily for Pirates, Vincent Pule gave them a two-goal lead in the 55th minute before Joseph Mhlongo pulled one back for the hosts.
After the match, Micho tried to defend his player’s actions, saying that it was an injury and not the abuse that saw Gabuza storm off.
The Serb said: “He got injured prior to the goal there and when the goal came he was leaving the field without the consent of the referee and the referee acted as per the rules.
“[The injury] is above his knee in his muscle. It is something I will not comment because I’m a technical person.”
He adds: "Under unbelievable circumstances we remained without one player in a moment where we scored the goal and we are supposed to cool down. I don’t want to comment on that.”