Steve Barker reacts to second successive MTN8 final defeat | OneFootball

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Barker on back-to-back MTN8 final heartaches

Photo: Gallo Images

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has reacted to the heartache of losing back-to-back MTN8 finals to Orlando Pirates.

Stellies fell to goals from Bucs’ second half substitutes Tshepang Moremi, who scored a brace and Tshegofatso Mabasa’s close range finish, with all goals coming in extra time.

The 57-year-old mentor attributed his team’s defeat to the impact of Abdeslam Ouaddou’s changes and credited the Soweto giants for their game management in the latter stages.

“I think the difference is that our substitutions didn’t have the same impact as theirs did. The impact of their subs allowed them to have momentum and obviously we went into extra time thinking there is maybe something for us and then we concede,” Barker said.

“Obviously when you play extra time in a cup final, you just try to go for it, which we were not able to and unfortunately, they scored the second goal, and it became a very difficult task for us. They are a very experienced team; they have been in many cup finals.

“I thought they managed the last 15 minutes of extra time very well and that gave them the third goal, so just on the balance of play, it’s maybe not the result we deserved but based on the performance of extra time I think Pirates deserved to be crowned champions.

Barker went on to express proudness of his troops for being competitive and reaching back-to-back finals and urged them to rise above the defeat and shift focus to improve their standing in the Betway Premiership standings.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, two years in a row now but if we are still making finals and we are competing the way we are then I have to be proud of what the players have achieved. It’s always a lesson learnt when you lose like this evening [Saturday] and I think we learnt lessons again,” he added.

“We are a team that has the ability to bounce back, and we have to get out as quickly as possible over the defeat and focus on league matches and improve our position on the log.