Orlando Pirates have successfully defended their MTN8 title after overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties on Saturday night.
Pirates had Monnapule Saleng back alongside Kermit Erasmus, who started against his former side, while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Marcelo Allende, Neo Maema and Peter Shalulile were back in the Sundowns side.
Masandawana looked to register first when Shalulile intercepted a stray pass by Nkosinathi Sibisi and sent Themba Zwane clean through, but Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine smothered from point-blank range.
The Buccaneers sprung to life a little later to win a free-kick outside the area following a foul on Miguel Timm, but captain Tapelo Xoki send the resultant effort over the top.
Sundowns launched another scare three minutes before the half-hour mark when Shalulile headed over from point-blank range following Khuliso Mudau’s pin-point cross.
At the same time, Pirates were forced into a change as Sibisi was unable to continue after an earlier collision with Mothobi Mvala and had to make way for Olisa Ndah,who came on for his minutes of the season.
Both sides found chances to take the front ahead of halftime, but lacked the decisiveness to rattle the back of the net and entered the break goalless.
With no changes before the resumption of the second half, the match continued to be very tight and limited in regards to amount of final third penetrations.
It was an end-to-end spell before a half-volley from Shalulile in the area following Mudau’s snap shot sailed over and denied Sundowns the lead.
The Brazilians were in again around the remaining ten minutes where Allende pounced on a snap clearance by Ndah to work a low save off Chaine.
Pirates could’ve snatched the cup in the dying minutes through Saleng’s near post effort after a cutback from Erasmus, but he hit the side-netting and led the match to extra-time.
Masandawana introduced Thapelo Maseko and Lebohang Maboe before the extra period, and had the latter nearly earned a spot-kick from a foul by Chaine but it was waved away.
The rub of the green continued to going against the Brazilians after Junior Mendieta’s half-volley was disallowed for offside, and forced the match to a penalty shoot-out.
Chaine was the hero in the shoot-out when he saved three spot-kicks in a row before Karim Kimvuidi fired in the winning kick to see the Buccaneers clinch the MTN8 for the second year running.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Shandu, Hotto, Timm, Monare, Maswanganyi, Saleng, Erasmus, Lepasa
Subs: Ofori, Ndah, Mofokeng, Baloni, Mako, Kimvuidi, Kapinga, Makgopa, Makhaula
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mvala, Coetzee, Mudau, Boutouil, Modiba, Mokowena, Allende, Maema, Zwane, Shalulile
Subs: D. Onyango, Kekana, Lebusa, Zungu, Mkhulise, Maboe, Mabena, Maseko, Mendieta
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
