Orlando Pirates hero Sipho Chaine says the early save he made by coming out to block the shot of Themba Zwane boosted his confidence that he was destined to have a good game.
Sundowns should have taken the lead in the MTN8 final against Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday as early as the fifth minute when Nkosinathi Sibisi’s back pass was half-cooked, allowing Peter Shalulile to intercept the ball and set up on running Zwane clean through.
But Chaine spread his body big to come up trumps, much to the disappointment of Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena on the bench.
In the extra time, though, Chaine almost cost Pirates, flapping the easy catch which got slipped in his hands and then hacking Lebohang Maboe inside the box.
Referee Abongile Tom, instead of giving Sundowns a penalty, penalised Shalulile who blocked the follow-up path of Chaine for a free kick. Again, Mokwena in the technical area was left crushed.
Despite that mistake, Chaine went on to make three saves in the penalty shootout after the game ended goalless in 120 minutes, denying Bongani Zungu, Junior Mendieta and Teboho Mokoena.
“The save in the first half was really a confidence booster,” Chaine, who was named man of the match, said at the press conference.
“For every goalkeeper to keep the team in the game when it was really tough and one goal could win it, I’m glad I could save the team. It gave me more confidence even in the penalty shootouts.”
Only blooded Mothobi Mvala converted the only spot-kick for Sundowns, sending the former Bloemfontein Celtic and Royal AM goalie the wrong way but Pirates were clinical in theirs through Deon Hotto, Lesedi Kapinga and Karim Kimvuidi to win 3-1 at the packed to rafters Moses Mabhida Stadium.
This was Pirates’ third MTN8 trophy in the last four years, defending it after they won it at the same venue in Durban in November last year against AmaZulu.
Chaine, to be the best man on the park, no one saw it coming having suffered an ignominy when head coach Jose Riveiro took him off in the last minute against Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League second leg of the preliminary second round.
He was replaced by Richard Ofori, who in turn, failed to make one penalty save as Pirates crashed out.
