MTN8 Final Match Report: Amazing Monnapule Saleng Free Kick Hands Orlando Pirates Victory Over AmaZulu

MTN8 Final Match Report: Amazing Monnapule Saleng Free Kick Hands Orlando Pirates Victory Over AmaZulu

Keba Mothoagae
updated at August 9, 2023 at 9:30 AM
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  • Orlando Pirates have been crowned as the new champions of the MTN8 Wafa Wafa competition
  • The Buccaneers accounted AmaZulu 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in front of a capacity crowd
  • The red-hot Monnapule Saleng scored the only goal of the game via a sensational free-kick in the 25th minute

The disappointment of the Soweto Derby has been forgotten quickly by Orlando Pirates.

The Buccaneers defeated AmaZulu 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening. Pirates' solitary goal came from the red-hot Monnapule Saleng, who intentionally fired the ball home past a bemused Veli Mothwa in the 25th minute of a scrappy and tense final.

mtn8 final, orlando pirates, amazulu, monnapule saleng, moses mabhida stadium, romain folz, jose riveiro
Orlando Pirates did enough to see off AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Image source: @orlandostadium.
Source: Twitter

The rest of the match was a tense and scrappy affair as both teams struggled to gain rhythm. However, Pirates' strong defence enveloped Usuthu as the 'home' team sought the equaliser in front of King Misuzulu of the Zulu nation.

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The closest they came was via the head of Lehlohonolo Majoro, who's header found the crossbar with Richard Ofori well beaten.

That was as close as it would come as the Buccaneers claimed their first trophy since 2020, when they won the same trophy at the same venue against AmaZulu.

Orlando Pirates XI: Ofori, Sibisi, Ndah, Xoki, Monyane, Hotto, Timm, Motshwari, Ndlondlo, Saleng, Erasmus.

Subs: Mpontshane, Pule, Nga, Mako, Shandu, Lepasa, Dlamini, Makgopa, Makgaka.

AmaZulu XI: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Mphahlele, Mobara, Hanamub, Makhaula, Maluleka, Bwalya, Maduna, Kwem, Mhango.

Subs: Amonome, Mabiliso, Gumede, Malepe, Buchanan, Brooks, Zuma, Ndlovu, Majoro.

Video: Electrifying commentary For Monnapule Saleng's goal in Orlando Pirates' victory over Mamelodi Sundowns

Sometimes, commentary can enhance amazing sequences of play on a sports field for the viewers at home.

There was another instance of this fact when Orlando Pirates destroyed Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 in the second leg of the MTN8 recently, as reported by Sports Brief. SABC Sport's SeTswana commentator Oatile Jacobs was on hand to wax lyrical as the electrifying Monnapule Saleng tore through the defending champions, before hammering the final nail into their coffin.

This was Saleng's second goal of the afternoon, having assisted for Kermit Erasmus' opener in the fifth minute in what proved to be a relatively comfortable victory for the Buccaneers at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

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Keba Mothoagae
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