Maties Football Club (FC) won the 2023 ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup final through a penalty shootout against First National Rangers FC.
The wind during the 2023 ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup final led to challenging match conditions, said Verno Pieterson, captain for Maties Football Club (FC). However, Maties overcame the wind and secured their victory over First National Rangers FC in the penalty shootout. Pieterson explains the team’s mentality regarding external factors in the video. VIDEO: Amy Cloete
The scoreboard remained 0-0 at the end of extra time forcing the teams to face-off in a penalty shootout on 28 October at the Stellenbosch University Lentelus Sports Ground.
The Maties team “struggled” in the first half, said Desmond Crowie, coach of Maties FC.
“I’m very proud of the players, the individuals and the team,” stated Crowie.
The second half of the 2023 ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup final was a “different ball game” as Maties Football Club (FC) was “feeling braver and pushing more numbers forward” in their face-off against first National Rangers FC, according to Verno Pieterson, captain of Maties FC (pictured above). PHOTO: Amy Cloete
Overcoming the ‘fear factor’
The first half of the match saw the Rangers dominate with some shots on goal and one bouncing off the cross bar. However, at half time the scoreboard was still sitting on 0-0.
“The fear factor crept in [during the first half],” according to Crowie. “Once you are scared to make a mistake, you will make a mistake.”
Ultimately though, the team performed “very very well”, said Verno Pieterson, captain of Maties FC. “You could see the unity in the team,” he stated.
Recovery was important to Maties Football Club (FC) leading up to the 2023 ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup final, especially as they had a double header weekend before they played First National Rangers FC on 28 October in Stellenbosch, said Verno Pieterson, captain of Maties FC. PHOTO: Amy Cloete
Dying minutes
In the second half, Maties penetrated the Rangers’ penalty box in the first five minutes and received two consecutive throw-ins, followed by a corner. Though, the Rangers goalkeeper managed to save the attempt at goal.
“For them to lift themselves out of that hole of the first half and to perform and to create all those chances in the second [half] and extra time, it just shows the character of the team,” said Crowie.
Both sides displayed some physicality in the second half, with each team receiving a yellow card. The second half also saw a Maties player being medically escorted off the field following a bad tackle from the Rangers.
Both defences remained impenetrable, thus leaving the score at 0-0 at full time. As such, an additional 30-minutes was added to the clock. However, no goals were scored in the allocated extra time, leading the teams to penalty shootouts.
Maties Football Club (FC) competed in the ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup competition for the second time and clinched a victory over First National Rangers FC in the penalty shootout on 28 October at the Stellenbosch University Lentelus Sports Ground, said Verno Pieterson, captain of Maties FC. PHOTO: Amy Cloete
A final face-off
“It was a high-pressure game, I knew there would be a bit of nerves,” said Keegan Pool, goalkeeper of Maties FC. “I felt a bit nervous, but I knew I had it and I have the ability to save [the] penalties,” explained Pool.
Maties was up first, converting their first and second kicks at goal. While the Rangers missed their first attempt, their second kick landed the ball in the back of the net. The third kick from Maties was saved by the keeper and the Rangers also failed to convert their third penalty.
While the Rangers managed to score their fourth attempt, Maties scored both their fourth and fifth penalties, leaving the score at 4-2 in favour of Maties at the end of the penalty shootout.