The winner for Orlando Pirates came via a throw-in, which was taken quickly and Chiefs' defenders were caught napping.

It's a pity that the ball-boy will get no credit for this goal, however, it was his quick throw of the ball to a Pirates player that led to the goal.

In a home match, ball-boys form part of the team's strategy, they are given clear instructions, exactly when to delay, and when to act timeously hence football matches are decided by such small margins.

Ball-boys do play an integral part during the match, one remembers an incident back in 2013 when Chelsea was trailing Swansea City by 2-0, and the ball-boy tried to waste time by holding onto the ball by laying on it in the 80th minute.

Hazard tried to retrieve the ball and ended up kicking the youngster who rolled around clutching his ribs.

As Kaizer Chiefs were trailing by 2-3, the coach tried to effect the game by making substitutions, this was the moment when Chiefs plight was really exposed.

The substitutions were made up of academy graduates, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Wandile Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi as well as the misfiring striker, Jasond Gonzalez, who has failed to make an impact since arriving in Naturena.

All these players have not been regulars in the team, yet they were expected to deliver in the biggest stage.

For the Chiefs coach, he didn't have a lot to choose from, he had to use what was at his disposal.

Just as the old saying, "when you are in a desert, you dig where you are".

Bringing knives in a gun fight is never going to win anyone any battle.

On the other side, when Pirates coach wanted to close shop, he introduced the club captain Innocent Maela and Thabiso Monyane, the club's reliable right back.

For a team to be successful, players on the bench must be as good as those on the starting eleven and Mamelodi Sundowns are a good example of that.