Orlando Pirates won another trophy after beating Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final. Steliies coach Steve Barker has questioned the refereeing before the Buccaneers’ second goal.
MTN8: ORLANDO PIRATES 3-1 STELLENBOSCH FC
As witnessed from the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night, Stellies took the lead with a Lehlohonolo Mojela bicycle kick after 12 minutes. The Soweto giants later responded with a Monnapule Saleng equaliser in the 43rd minute. Tsegofatso Mabasa took the lead during injury time on 93 minutes before Relebohile Mofokeng delivered the third during the 96th minute.
STEVE BARKER PLEADS FOR VAR
“I’m not sure, I think there had been at some stage a point that they were looking to target the final – this one – to implement VAR, but unfortunately they did not,” said Barker via SABC.
“But it just seems like there’s far too many big calls that are not going the right way, and I think the intervention of VAR will help.
“Refs are human, I don’t think the refs go and purposefully make the mistake, it’s just that a lot’s happening, it’s the 90th minute of a cup final, they take a quick free-kick, he suddenly looks, it’s a goal.
“He’s got that decision to make – do I let it stand, do I not let it stand? He’s elected to let the goal stand, so [sigh] – VAR intervention, I believe, would have said, ‘Listen, re-take, re-start, it wasn’t taken at the right place, you were still speaking to the players.’
“He hadn’t even seen what happened, hopefully sanity would have prevailed and we would have had, maybe, an interesting extra-time [period],” the Stellies tactician concluded.
DO YOU AGREE WITH STEVE BARKER?
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