Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena felt his team played one of their better games in the season and was left perplexed by their defeat in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final to Orlando Pirates.
Sundowns led with 20 minutes to play but went down 2-1 as Pirates snatched a late victory in stoppage time at the end of the match to defend the trophy they won last year.
“It's one I really cannot find words to explain, as we started very, very well,” Mokwena insisted as he reviewed the match. “In fact, I thought we played well overall.”
Sundowns had an early penalty from Lucas Ribeiro saved by Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
“We got the penalty but then we didn't score and then the game dragged a little bit until halftime but still we were very comfortable and in so much control.
“In fact, I think one of our better performances this season. And to dominate a game like a cup final against a very strong team like Orlando Pirates. And then not to win is bittersweet because you look at the performance you know you deserve better,” Mokwena said.
”But like I said to the players in my team talk ‘cup finals are not there to be played, they are there to be won’.
“And of course I think also some of the key moments in the game didn't go for us. We missed the penalty and their penalty I thought I thought Tito (Patrick Maswanganyi) actually fouled Aubrey Modiba to be honest. I watched it again and again and I think it's actually a foul for Sundowns and it should be going the other way.”
Maswanganyi equalised for Pirates from the disputed penalty after Themba Zwane had put the league champions into a 54th minute lead. Then substitute Relebogile Mofokeng snatched a dramatic win for his side right before the final whistle.
“But cup finals are like that games, about small details and moments and unfortunately the moments in the 90 minutes didn't go for us. So you've got to congratulate the Pirates and be gracious in defeat,” he added.