Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists dropping star midfielder Oswin Appollis was a deliberate tactical strategy aimed at turning the second half against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Behind his star performance and opening goal in Durban, Teboho Mokoena reveals the profound grief and family turmoil he masked to help Mamelodi Sundowns dethrone Orlando Pirates.

Orlando Pirates were unable to make it five MTN8 titles in a row on Saturday as they lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. We look at how the Buccaneers’ players rated in an underwhelming performance overall from Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side. Orlando Pirates player ratings Sipho Chaine 8/10 The Pirates goalkeeper made a series of outstanding saves in the first half to keep his side in the match. Unlucky to be on the losing side. Kamogelo Sebelebele 6 Sebelebele couldn’t really get forward and affect the game in the first half. Was unlucky to be forced off with a first half injury. Nkosinathi Sibisi 7 Orlando Pirates’ experienced centre back made a host of vital interventions to keep the scoreline respectable. Lebone Seema 5 Seema didn’t have one of his best games in defence. He was caught out by Thabang Matuludi’s flick for Mokoena’s opener. Deon Hotto 6 Hotto had an effective game as a left wing back, getting forward to good effect, but was unable to provide a killer pass or an equaliser for his side. Thapelo Mokobodi 6 Mokobodi was a bit overrun at times in midfield, but he was desperately unlucky to have a penalty awarded against him after a poor decision from referee Abongile Tom. Simphiwe Selepe 5 Selepe didn’t have much influence on the game and was one of the poorer Pirates players on show in Durban. Thalente Mbatha 6 Mbatha was caught on the ball early on by Brayan Leon and Sundowns should have doubled their lead. He hit one shot into the side netting but was not his usually dominant self. Gamphani Lungu 6 Lungu was Pirates’ most threatening attacker and had one first half effort well saved by Ronwen Williams. Williams then denied Lungu from the penalty spot in the second half. Yanela Mbuthuma 7 Mbuthuma led the line quite well for Pirates, but remains frustratingly inconsistent in front of goal. He did well to used his strength and win a second half penality for his team. Tshepang Moremi 6 Moremi was another Pirates player who didn’t play up to his usual standards. Try as he might, the Bafana man couldn’t really influence the game. Pirates substitutes Oswin Appollis 6 It was a surprise that Appollis did not start the final, though he did come off the bench for Sebelebele at half time. He did set up Lungu with one brilliant pass but generally failed to affect the game. Kabelo Kgositsile 5 Came off the bench as part of a triple substitution in the 74th minute but didn’t really make an impression. Simphiwe Masilela 7 Came off the bench with Kgositsile and Evidence Makgopa and very nearly scored with a brilliant run and shot that went inches wide. Evidence Makgopa 5 Like Kgositsile, couldn’t really influence the game when he came on. Mohau Nkota Only came on for the last eight minutes so impossible to rate.

Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned MTN8 champions following a 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night. Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners were on target as the Brazilians lifted the season-opening competition after an entertaining encounter in Durban. Mamelodi Sundowns Player Ratings: Ronwen Williams – 8/10 Williams delivered when his team needed him most in a frantic opening 45 minutes. He also denied Ghampani Lungu from the penalty spot on the hour mark, producing a crucial save to keep his side in front. Thabang Matuludi – 6 Matuludi looked comfortable on the ball and was rarely troubled at right-back. Making only his second start in Sundowns colours, wasn’t caught out at the back, with much of Pirates’ attacking threat not coming down his flank. Khulumani Ndamane – 5 Ndamane showed commitment in his individual battles and was not afraid to get stuck in. However, he looked less assured than the final scoreline might suggest, with Pirates finding opportunities to trouble the Sundowns defence. Malibongwe Khoza – 6 Khoza endured a challenging evening alongside Ndamane in central defence. The pair could have been punished had Pirates been more clinical in front of goal, leaving both defenders somewhat fortunate to escape without greater scrutiny. Thapelo Morena – 5 Morena endured a quiet night and missed a golden opportunity in the first half. The experienced wing-back struggled to make an impact after that early miss and offered little going forward. Aubrey Modiba – 5 Modiba struggled to influence proceedings at either end of the pitch. His contribution in attack was limited, while he also failed to make a significant impact defensively. Miguel Cardoso’s decision to withdraw him at half-time, particularly after his first-half booking, came as little surprise. Teboho Mokoena – 7 Mokoena did not appear to be at full fitness after returning from international duty with Bafana Bafana carrying an injury. Nevertheless, the midfielder used his experience to make a valuable contribution. Although he lacked his usual freedom of movement, he put in a solid shift to help Sundowns get over the line. Nuno Santos – 5 Santos failed to reach the heights expected of him after his impressive brace in Sundowns’ 2-1 victory over Al-Ahli Saudi in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup last month. The Portuguese attacker struggled to make a telling impact and was relatively quiet throughout the final. Marcelo Allende – 6 Allende looked comfortable dictating play from deep but offered little attacking threat in the final third. Despite his limited contribution going forward, the Chilean midfielder worked hard and delivered a solid performance in the MTN8 decider. Brayan León – 5 It was a frustrating evening for León who struggled to make his presence felt in attack. The Colombian striker was indecisive in several promising situations and missed a golden opportunity late in the second half before being substituted with eight minutes remaining. Tashreeq Matthews – 5 Matthews was guilty of poor decision-making when Sundowns broke forward into promising positions, and greater composure in the final third could have helped his team put the game beyond Pirates’ reach earlier. Sundowns Substitutes Divine Lunga – 6 Lunga offered little in attack but was dependable defensively. He played an important role in helping Sundowns keep Pirates at bay during his time on the pitch. Iqraam Rayners – 6 Rayners made his presence felt by converting the penalty in injury time. Beyond that decisive contribution, the striker had little opportunity to influence the game during his brief 12-minute appearance. Siyanda Ndlovu – 6 Ndlovu brought energy after coming off the bench and made an immediate impact by winning a late penalty. Introduced with eight minutes of regulation time remaining, he looked lively and gave the Sundowns attack a lift. Thabo Cele – 5 Cele struggled to get involved after replacing Santos with 22 minutes remaining. He often found himself chasing the game without the ball but worked hard defensively and helped cover for Mokoena when the midfielder was unable to track back.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended after the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced on Saturday that it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the 41-year-old over his decision to walk out on the national team. Ronaldo apologised to supporters earlier this week while criticising Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and said he would accept any punishment that was imposed. READ | Cristiano Ronaldo marries long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez Pending a decision “Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo,” said the FPF in a statement, classifying the case as “urgent” and confirming Ronaldo is currently suspended pending a decision on the final punishment. Ronaldo left Portugal’s Nations League squad after first being made to warm up as a substitute against Norway on September 27 and not brought on, and then finding out he would not start against Denmark in the match on October 1. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker is the all-time top goalscorer and record appearance-maker in men’s international football. According to Portuguese media, under the federation’s regulations, a player who misses a training session, a match, or a national team activity faces a suspension ranging from one to six months. On Tuesday, Cristiano Ronaldo accused Portugal coach Jesus of breaking his word about giving him game time in Nations League matches but said he was not retiring from international duty and would be available to play once any potential punishment was served. “I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” Ronaldo said, while accepting his actions must be “punished” by the federation. Pele or Maradona Cristiano Ronaldo said Jesus had gone back on his word about bringing him on against Norway, and then in a press conference before the Denmark match had not said a series of points they had agreed upon during a conversation beforehand. One of Ronaldo’s pre-approved talking points was that Jesus had “made a mistake in asking someone of the stature of Pele or Maradona to warm up and then not sending him on in the match.” Jesus chose not to respond to Ronaldo’s statement when asked about it. “I read the statement, and now, like I do every day, I’m going to the federation headquarters to work, to think about the Portuguese national team,” said the 72-year-old coach. Returned to club action Jesus said last Sunday he would select Cristiano Ronaldo for international duty if the forward was playing for his club and was interested in being called up. Portugal won all four of their Nations League matches and qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare. Portugal host Denmark on November 14 and then travel to face Wales on November 17 in their final two Nations League Group A4 matches. Ronaldo returned to club action on Friday with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr and scored as they won 3-0 against Diriyah in a Saudi Pro League match. It was the striker’s 980th career goal. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Orlando Pirates suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening. The Buccaneers were hoping to make it five consecutive MTN8 titles but found themselves second best against Masandawana. Goals from Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners handed the Brazilians their first cup victory over Pirates in 19 years. Although Sundowns were not at their best, they were efficient enough to frustrate the Buccaneers and capitalise on their opportunities. Pirates, who were unbeaten this season heading into the final, looked out of sorts and rarely threatened to score. Even when they were awarded a second-half penalty, Ghampani Lungu failed to convert from the spot, with Ronwen Williams making the save. Here are three reasons Abdeslam Ouaddou got it wrong as Orlando Pirates lost the MTN8 final. Poor midfield selection Starting Thalente Mbatha, Thapelo Mokobodi and Simphiwe Selepe in midfield proved ineffective, with the trio struggling to cope with Sundowns’ dominance in the middle of the park. The three players had not started together this season, raising questions about Ouaddou’s decision to trust an untested combination in such an important match. Mbatha, who had been out of action for two months, was also thrown straight into the starting line-up despite his lack of match fitness. Sundowns took full advantage, winning the midfield battle and limiting Pirates’ ability to build attacks. The Buccaneers struggled to establish control, leaving their forwards isolated for long periods. Sundowns owned the midfield against Orlando Pirates In a final of this magnitude, Ouaddou needed a midfield combination capable of matching Sundowns’ intensity and experience. Instead, his selection failed to deliver the balance and control Pirates desperately needed. Starting Moremi ahead of Appollis Ouaddou’s decision to start Tshepang Moremi ahead of Oswin Appollis was another selection call that failed to pay off. Moremi endured a difficult afternoon, struggling to make an impact and often resorting to shots from distance rather than creating meaningful opportunities. The winger spent much of the match chasing shadows and failed to trouble the Sundowns defence consistently. Orlando Pirates lacked the creativity and attacking threat needed to stretch their opponents, making it difficult for them to build momentum in the final third. Appollis, who has been a regular attacking option for the Buccaneers, could have offered a different dimension with his direct running and ability to create chances. With Pirates struggling to break down Sundowns, questions will inevitably be asked about whether Ouaddou should have started Appollis or introduced him earlier to change the course of the match. Taking Sebelebele off Ouaddou’s decision to substitute Kamogelo Sebelebele in the second half was another move that raised questions. Sebelebele had received a yellow card in the first half, which may have influenced the coach’s decision to take him off. However, his withdrawal arguably reduced Pirates’ attacking threat at a time when they needed to find a way back into the contest. The winger’s energy and ability to drive forward could have given the Buccaneers another attacking outlet as they chased an equaliser. Instead, Ghampani Lungu struggled to make the desired impact, missing a crucial penalty and failing to capitalise on another promising opportunity. Will Orlando Pirates fans blame Ouaddou? Ouaddou will have plenty to reflect on after Pirates’ disappointing defeat. His midfield selection failed to provide the necessary control, Moremi struggled to justify his inclusion ahead of Appollis, and Sebelebele’s substitution did little to improve the Buccaneers’ attacking threat. Who is to blame?

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