Relebohile Mofokeng inspires Union Saint-Gilloise comeback with goal and assist

Relebohile Mofokeng scored and created another goal as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise recovered from two goals down to beat Cercle Brugge 5-2 in the Belgian Pro League.

The Bafana Bafana attacker headed Union’s fourth goal in the 80th minute before setting up Kevin Rodriguez in stoppage time, completing a remarkable turnaround at Stade Joseph Marien.

Union had been under pressure after Steve Ngoura converted a first-half penalty to put Cercle Brugge ahead. Their situation worsened early in the second half when Massire Sylla’s own goal doubled the visitors’ advantage.

The hosts began their recovery almost immediately, with Raul Florucz reducing the deficit. Sylla then scored at the right end in the 62nd minute to restore parity, before Emmanuel Kakou’s own goal put Union in front.

Mofokeng extended the home side’s lead when he rose to meet Louis Patris’ cross and head the ball into the net. He then turned provider late on, delivering the assist for Rodriguez to seal Union’s fifth goal.

The performance adds to an encouraging start in Belgium for the former Orlando Pirates player, who joined Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in July on a contract lasting until 2030. The agreement also includes an option for the club to extend it by another year.

Mofokeng has already demonstrated that he can affect matches both as a goalscorer and as a creator. His latest display came only days after he assisted in Union’s 4-0 UEFA Europa League win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

The victory moved Royale Union Saint-Gilloise up to third in the Belgian league table after nine matches, keeping them close to the leaders.

For the 22-year-old, the match represented another step in his transition to European football. He left Orlando Pirates after a title-winning campaign and has also represented Bafana at the World Cup.

Mofokeng is now building a strong reputation abroad, with his latest contribution showing that he is not merely settling into a new league but is increasingly helping to decide matches for his new club.