Steve Barker Explains Why Stellenbosch FC Lost to Orlando Pirates in MTN8 Final

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker acknowledged that his team was outplayed by Orlando Pirates during extra-time in the MTN8 final.

The Cape Winelands side fell short of claiming their first MTN8 trophy, suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Buccaneers on Saturday night.

Barker congratulated Orlando Pirates on their fourth consecutive MTN8 title, acknowledging that winning a trophy four years in a row is no easy feat. He said that in open play, especially during the first nine minutes, the match was evenly contested, with both teams having chances to take the lead.

Barker noted that Stellenbosch seemed to gain the upper hand during a period in the second half, and he hoped the substitutions would boost the team’s performance, but they didn’t have the desired impact. Going into extra-time, he believed Stellenbosch still had a chance to win, but Pirates outplayed them, scoring early and then capitalizing on space left behind to secure the second goal, making a comeback extremely difficult.

While the 3-0 scoreline didn’t fully reflect how competitive the game had been, Barker admitted that Pirates were the stronger side in extra-time and deserved to lift the trophy.

Source: Briefly News