Orlando Pirates were crowned MTN8 champions for the second consecutive season after beating rivals Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties. Soccer Laduma looks at the five things to take away from the final.
1. Do Sundowns have depth?
The Brazilians seemingly dropped in performance after they substituted key players such as Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile.
Former Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United attacker Thuso Phala says the Tshwane giants could not capitalize on Pirates getting tired in the closing stages of the game, as their attacking substitutions were not effective.
"I was worried with Zwane's sub because the more Pirates got tired, those windows opened to play through, Riva (Coetzee) could get those (passes) but Mendieta is not a player to turn in those, Maseko is not the player to play in those windows," Phala said on TK Solutions TV YouTube Channel.
"The subs affected the game," he said.
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2. Pirates rediscovered their missing puzzle piece?
Miguel Timm made his first domestic start and alongside Thabang Monare, was key in the Buccaneers stopping Sundowns from playing out from the back with a high press.
Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena says he was caught off guard by tactical positions that were assigned to Timm.
"I was caught a little bit by surprise with Miguel Timm's position on the goal-kicks especially and how high he was to try to stop us from playing," Mokwena said in a press conference.
3. Chaine undisputed number one at Pirates?
The Buccaneers goalkeeper Sipho Chaine has been the first choice shot-stopper since Richard Ofori got injured last season. However, his penalty-saving abilities were doubted after he was substituted towards the end of their CAF Champions League match against Jwaneng Galaxy by Ofori.
Pirates head coach has explained what was the difference between Chaine being subbed against Galaxy and left on the field to face penalties against the Brazilians, where he was the hero after saving three successive spot-kicks.
"Against Jwaneng, a team that we knew nothing about them on penalties, there's no material to analyze, you go blind. We tried something different, kind of a mind game (but) it did not work," Riveiro explained in a press conference.
"(Against Sundowns) is different because we know the goalkeeper, we know the (penalty) takers, so we have more influence in what's happening, our goalkeeper coach, the analysis department, so you go there with more information and more probability to succeed."
4. Pirates zero shots on target worked against Williams?
The Buccaneers had no shots on target after 120 minutes, although they won't mind that statistic after they won the cup. Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams' sharpness could have been affected in the penalty shootouts, as he did not save a spot-kick.
The Soweto giants shot-stopper revealed after the game that the two brilliant saves he made during the game helped his confidence in the penalty shootouts.
"I think the saves in the first-half were really a confidence booster, for every goalkeeper it's very important to keep your team in the game when it was really tough, it spurred me on to have more confidence in the penalty shootouts," Chaine said in a press conference.
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5. Riveiro shows he can handle pressure at Pirates
Pirates went into the final with the bad form of three losses in their last four games in all competitions and the one win in that run ended up being a loss overall, after they were knocked out of the CAF Champions League by Jwaneng Galaxy on penalties.
Despite that, the Buccaneers showed unity and fighting spirit.
Jose Riveiro explained how he handled that pressure situation.
"When you get two or three results you don't want to get, don't have coach attacks, suddenly everything must be changed," the Spanish coach said in a press conference.
"Pressure is something that helps us to improve, I don't have a problem with that to be honest, I don't want to sound arrogant. For me it's very important that in the bad moments the players do not feel that the leader gets nervous or doubts," he added.
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