Sundowns overcome Pirates to lift MTN8 and strengthen domestic ambitions

Mamelodi Sundowns ended their five-year wait for the MTN8 trophy by beating Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, producing a performance that underlined their domestic ambitions after last season’s disappointing cup campaign.

As Abongile Tom brought the final to a close, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso walked behind his dugout, pointed towards the supporters with his left hand and placed his right hand over his heart.

The Portuguese coach was recreating Jayden Adams’ signature celebration in tribute to the late star, but the gesture also captured the significance of the occasion for Masandawana.

Sundowns had arrived at the sold-out stadium with their supporters conscious of the club’s recent record in domestic knockout competitions. They had not won the MTN8 for five years and had failed to claim any domestic cup in the previous four.

Orlando Pirates, by contrast, came into the match as the competition’s record-extending four-time successive champions, having won seven trophies during the previous four seasons.

Sundowns’ squad depth and quality proved decisive, however, as they secured the trophy under the Durban night sky. The victory established an imposing platform for their domestic objectives and followed their success in the Fifa African-Asian-Pacific Cup shortly before the international break.

They won the MTN8 in their first match after returning from the Fifa break, meaning they had claimed two pieces of silverware in succession without playing a fixture between the triumphs. The latest success also extended an impressive period that included ending a decade-long continental drought in the final of the previous season.

Teboho Mokoena was central to the victory. The midfielder opened the scoring, controlled the tempo and helped preserve Sundowns’ defensive structure as Pirates pushed urgently for an equaliser in the second half.

His contribution carried added significance because he was playing through severe personal grief. Mokoena had recently lost his grandfather, while his brother was still in hospital recovering from a stabbing.

The midfielder was supported by his team-mates, who responded during difficult spells and benefited when he imposed himself on the game. When Mokoena conceded a late penalty, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams kept Sundowns ahead by saving Gamphani Lungu’s spot-kick.

The stop fulfilled Cardoso’s demand for resilience and was among several important interventions made by Williams when Pirates threatened. It also gave him his first, and most important, clean sheet of the tournament after Sundowns had made an uncertain defensive start to the campaign.

Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine had earlier prevented the deficit from becoming larger with a series of first-half saves. Sundowns’ forwards, including Iqraam Rayners, missed opportunities from open play before Tom awarded them a controversial second-half penalty.

Rayners converted calmly to settle the contest and secure the result.

Sundowns, praised across the continent and beyond, now have the season’s most lucrative domestic cup and the associated bragging rights over their local rivals. Their next objective is to carry this momentum into the pursuit of the league title, which they will again aim to take from Orlando Pirates.