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Mofokeng's first goal wins cup final for Orlando Pirates / Photo: © AFP
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Mofokeng's first goal wins cup final for Orlando Pirates
Relebohile Mofokeng scored his first goal of the five-month-old season to give Orlando Pirates a 1-0 extra-time victory over Marumo Gallants on Saturday in the South African League Cup final.
Favourites Pirates squandered numerous chances in regular time before a sell-out 44,000 crowd in northern city Polokwane before the 21-year-old winger netted on 105 minutes
Marumo failed to clear a low cross and Mofokeng side-footed the loose ball into the net past 40-year-old Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
While Gallants had defended stoutly, they lacked the attacking power to seek an equaliser and finished the 120-minute final without having a single goal attempt on target.
"We found space between the lines and our off-the-ball running was excellent," said Pirates' Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Premier League defender with Fulham.
"I took Mofokeng off immediately after he scored because I decided to close the shop. We were ahead and wanted to maintain that advantage, hence the move to take off a forward and bring on a defender."
Marumo are guided by French coach Alexandre Lafitte, who at 28 is the youngest tactician among the 16 top-flight South African clubs.
"I am bitterly disappointed, but also so proud of my boys. We fought from the first whistle to the last. I had a feeling before the final that one goal was going to settle it."
Victory for Pirates, based in the vast Soweto township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, took them halfway to a sweep of the four domestic trophies.
They also won a knockout competition for the best eight league finishers last season and the FA Cup kicks off early next year.
Pirates, seeking a first league title since 2012, are two points ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns and have played one match less halfway through the season.
The final was the last match with Pirates for 20-year-old centre-half and captain Mbekezile Mbokazi, who will join Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chicago reportedly paid 51 million rand ($3 million) for the South African international.
Z.Phillips--SFF
