By Mark Gleeson BBC Sport, Durban

Bheka Phakhathi holds off Kazuyuki Toda

Pirates 2-1 Spurs

Orlando Pirates upset English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, but the South African champions needed a late penalty to secure the win.

Striker Lesley Manyathela, who was the country's leading goal scorer last season, netted from the spot five minutes from the end to secure the win.

The South African champions were awarded the penalty after Spurs fullback Stephen Carr had handled a cross in his own area.

The win was fair reward for the enterprise of the overcharged home side, eager to display their talent against top-flight English opposition.

Substitute Steve Lekoelea curled a spectacular free kick into the net from the edge of the penalty area to give Pirates the lead after 76 minutes.

But Spurs were back on level terms within a minute when the home team conceded an own goal.

The English club's new signing Helder Postiga stole the ball from the home defence and Pirates' debutant Felix Muamba Musasa got a leg in the way of the Portuguese striker's powerful square cross, steering it into his own net.

The first half, in front of some 20,000 spectators, offered few chances for both sides with Pirates shooting wildly from distance and only Helder Postiga, who played alone up front for most of the match, able to test the Pirates goalkeeper Makweni Mayala.

But the pace and passion picked up in the second period as temperatures cooled but tempers flared with Carr and Mauricio Taricco both angered by some clumsy challenges from the Pirates players.