Hotto inspires Pirates to MTN8 success
NAMIBIAN international Deon Hotto scored the equaliser in the 32nd minute before Thembinkosi Lorch netted the winner on 53 minutes to help Orlando Pirates come from behind to clinch the 2020 MTN8 title with a 2-1 win over 10man Bloemfontein Celtic at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
Saturday’s victory in the final secured a first piece of silverware for Pirates in six years. Celtic, who had Ronald Pfumbidzai sent off in the 50th minute, opened the scoring through Siphelele Luthuli but goals from Hotto and Lorch steered the Buccaneers to victory.
Lorch, who was a serious injury doubt for the clash, rose off the bench in the 24th minute in place of Thabang Monare who had to be stretched off following a clash with Celtic’s Tebogo Potsane.
Celtic had the ball in the back of the net in the third minute. Ndumiso Mabena’s powerful free-kick forced Richard Ofori into a good save and from the resulting corner-kick Celtic found the opener. Mzwanele Mahashe’s header picked out an unmarked Luthuli after Pirates had failed to clear their lines and the midfielder, who had lost his marker, directed an acrobatic effort into the back of the net from close range.
This only seemed to fuel Pirates who have made a habit of coming from behind in recent weeks and in the 32nd minute the Soweto giants pulled level. Celtic too missed an opportunity to clear their lines allowing Hotto to pounce on the loose ball and the Namibian winger kept his cool to finish past Jackson Mabokgwane.
Pirates took further confidence from the equaliser and came close to taking the lead in the 43rd minute. Fortune Makaringe played a clever ball in behind the Celtic defence and found Zakhele Lepasa whose deft touch whistled narrowly wide of goal.
The Buccaneers were afforded a golden opportunity to pull ahead five minutes after the interval after Pfumbidzai received his marching orders for a foul on Lorch, who had raced in behind the Cetlic defence.
Lorch, who had to wait close to three minutes to take the resulting penalty, kept his cool and thumped his right-footed attempt into the top corner of the net. Celtic did all the attacking in the final minutes of regulation time and five ensuing minutes of additional time, but the Pirates defence stood firm as the Free State club succumbed to defeat for the second final in succession.