Orlando Pirates emerged triumphant in the 2024 MTN8 final played at Moses Mabhida
Stadium, producing a remarkable come-from-behind win in defeating Stellenbosch 3-1 in what was a thrilling encounter on Saturday night.
The victory saw them become the first side to successfully defend their title twice in the tournament, having previously hoisted the prestigious piece of silverware aloft in 2022 and 2023. It was an excellent show of character for the defending champions, who had to fight back after trailing early in the contest.
This was after a nervy start to the contest where they had to see off a determined effort from the men from the Winelands. Pirates had to survive some early scares from their opponents before making a few surges up field, but without doing much to affect the scoreboard.
It was a similar story for the visitors whose attempts at penetrating the Bucs defensive third fell short under the watchful eye of the back four with Thabiso Sesane and Innocent Maela each making vital stops early on.
The Buccaneers could only contain the men from the Winelands until only the 14th minute as Lehlohonolo Mojela broke the deadlock with an acrobatic effort from close up after the Soweto Giants’ failure to clear their lines from a set piece. This launched Pirates into action as Patrick Maswanganyi and Thabiso Monyane each had shots blocked by keeper Sage Stephens in search of the equaliser.
Sipho Chaine was not kept entirely quiet at the other end as he was called upon to deal with Ibraheem Jabaar’s low shot from the edge of the box in the 31st minute. The Bucs shot- stopper proved equal to the task, diving low to his right to keep the visitors from doubling their lead.
The hosts remained on the front foot, entering opposition territory quite regularly without
really threatening the visitors’ lead. This was until three minutes from the break when Maswanganyi was fouled outside the box.
Deon Hotto’s effort from the set piece pierced the defensive wall, but could not find a way past the outstretched Stephens. The shot-stopper’s parry only went as far as Monnapule Saleng who made no mistake from the rebound, drawing the Buccaneers level moments before the break.
The Namibian international started the second half similarly to how he ended the previous period as he was again denied by Stephens who deflected his shot from close range onto the upright after the hosts’ caught their opponents napping from a set piece. Chaine also had to make an intervention at the opposite end, keeping out a shot from Fawaaz Basadien.
Stephens denied Relebohile Mofokeng from close range late in the contest, following up with another stop from Kabelo Dlamini’s boot as the Buccaneers desperately sought to avoid going into extra time. With the Stellies defence holding firm, it looked as if an extra 30 minutes was inevitable. This was until injury time when another lapse in concentration from the visitors allowed replacement striker Tshegofatso Mabasa in with a shot to edge the Buccaneers ahead, taking the lead for the first time in the contest.
Pirates soon added to Stellenbosch’s misery as they put the result beyond doubt with their third goal, which came through Mofokeng whose nifty feet inside the box allowed him a free shot at goal after the defence was stretched wide open. It was a deserved win for the Buccaneers, who had rallied back after an early setback to earn their 13th title in Top-Eight competition.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Sesane, Monyane, Maela (Mofokeng 62’), Mbatha (Rasebotja
74’), Makhaula (Dlamini 66’), Maswanganyi, Saleng, Hotto, Makgopa (Mabasa 66’).
