Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate after beating Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Image credit supplied
Mamelodi Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 to win the MTN8 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday night. The Sundowns MTN8 final victory ends the club’s five year wait for the trophy and dethrones the defending champions.
Teboho Mokoena gave Sundowns an early lead, and Iqraam Rayners sealed the win from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.
How the Sundowns MTN8 final was won
Sundowns struck first in the 11th minute. After a set piece, Mokoena reacted quickest and finished from close range to make it 1-0.
From there, the match became a tense and physical contest. The referee handed out three yellow cards, as Tashreeq Matthews, Aubrey Modiba and Tshepang Moremi all went into the book.
Then, in the 58th minute, Pirates had a golden chance to level the score from the penalty spot. However, the Sundowns goalkeeper saved the spot kick and kept his side in front.
Pirates kept pushing for an equaliser, but Sundowns held firm. Finally, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Sundowns won a penalty of their own after a foul in the box. Rayners stepped up and fired his right footed shot into the bottom left corner to seal the win.
After the match, coach Miguel Cardoso admitted that the victory did not come easily. He said Sundowns could have had a better result but that they deserved to take the trophy. At the same time, he praised Pirates and urged his players to stay humble.
Cardoso also warned his squad against complacency. He said the players should enjoy the win but must keep their focus and trust each other, because a busy schedule lies ahead.
Similarly, midfielder Nuno Santos said Sundowns had always been the chasers in this competition. He added that the team showed character and played like a family.
The trophy carries special meaning for the club. Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe said Sundowns will dedicate every trophy they win to the late Jayden Adams and his family. Adams, a Sundowns midfielder and Bafana Bafana international, died in July at the age of 25, shortly after playing at the FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore, Motsepe challenged the squad to win every trophy available this season. The MTN8 is already Sundowns’ third trophy in roughly a month. Before the international break, they won the FIFA African Asian Pacific Cup and then beat Saudi club Al Ahli 2-1 to lift the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The win is also Sundowns’ first domestic trophy since Pirates beat them to the Betway Premiership title last season.
There is little time to celebrate. Sundowns face another match in two days, while the Carling Knockout begins on Wednesday. In addition, a CAF Champions League qualifying round follows next weekend, alongside their Betway Premiership fixtures.