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'Football can be cruel" - Rulani on Downs' NBK Cup loss

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena was seemingly at a loss for words on how his side lost the Nedbank Cup final to Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns lost 2-1 to Pirates in the final after Relebohile Mofokeng came off the bench to net the winner for the Buccaneers in stoppage time.

The Buccaneers midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi had cancelled out a second-half opener for the Brazilians by Themba Zwane.

READ | Pirates sink Downs to defend Nedbank Cup crown

"I said I don't know what happened, I honestly don't know what happened, football can be very cruel can it? I mean we miss a penalty, they get a penalty, they scored, they equalised," Mokwena said on SuperSport.

"We dominated the game, I mean, then there's this free-kick I don't even think it should be going that way but okay this is what cup finals are all about, so congratulations to Pirates, we take the lesson and we move on," he said.

The 37-year-old coach also explained why he kept Khuliso Mudau on despite the right-back picking up a shoulder injury and also revealed why he had to take out Lucas Ribeiro Costa after his assist for Zwane.

"Ja well it's wear and tear, it's been a long season, a lot of games but okay… I mean I don't know how we lost this match honestly and I don't wanna use injuries as an excuse, because we should have won the game. Only one team on the pitch but anyway, it's football isn't it?" Mokwena asked.

"He's (Costa) injured, he gets clattered, 'Sailor' (Mudau) was clattered but anyway, congratulations to Pirates, it's football."

The former Orlando Pirates coach was also asked to sum up the season for Sundowns.

"The feeling of the match dampens a little bit of what I think has been a good season, unfortunately. It's time to do a bit of introspection and look at myself first and we'll see what happens," he added.

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