Jose Riveiro’s Orlando Pirates will be remembered forever for delivering cup trophies. The Buccaneers won another major title after beating Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final.
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.
The Stellenbosch heartbreak would come in injury time.
Tsegofatso Mabasa took the lead during injury time on 93 minutes before Relebohile Mofokeng delivered the third during the 96th minute.
While Orlando Pirates set a record of three consecutive MTN8 titles, the team also delivered a fifth title in three seasons under Jose Riveiro.
- MTN8 2022
- Nedbank Cup 2023
- MTN8 2023
- Nedbank Cup 2024
- MTN8 2024.
JOSE RIVEIRO’S REACTION
. “We managed, together with the coaching staff, with this group of players, to offer a good performance once more time,” the Orlando Pirates tactician said via FARPost.
“We are celebrating the result, but I think the guys played a brand of football…that is difficult to find in a final. Usually, finals are close, not that open, and also, thanks to Stellenbosch, the way they play, how aggressive they are, and how they want to win the games. It helps to have the opportunity to watch a final this like [entertaining football].
“It was a good level final. Pirates, Stellenbosch with [Mamelodi] Sundowns are playing in continental competition, but not by chance. It is because we are all doing things pretty well, and the level of the game tonight was very high with moments for Stellenbosch but many as I think we were ahead almost all the time even though we were a goal down at some stage.
“But from the beginning, I did not have a feeling for a minute that we were not going to make it [win],” added the Pirates mentor. “And it happened in the last minutes of the game, a crazy moment as we have smart players upfront, and they managed to create a goal out of nowhere.
“This win is history for the club. It is the team that won it for the third time in a row, not Riveiro. It is history for this group of players and everybody around to come to a final again and play at a high level like they did,” the Orlando Pirates coach concluded.
SHOULD ORLANDO PIRATES MAKE ANY SIGNINGS IN JANUARY?
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