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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin Sredojevic admitted the sending off of defender Marshall Munetsi - for a reckless challenge - played a role in his side's Telkom Knockout final loss, on Saturday.
Baroka FC completed a South African football fairytale by beating 10-man Pirates 3-2 on penalties to lift the trophy at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
A thrilling climax to the secondary domestic cup competition finished 2-2 after extra-time - with Lorch levelling matters late in the second-half of extra-time - to send the game to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Sredojevic lamented the fact that his side had to compete with 10 men for the majority of the encounter after a reckless two-footed lunge by Munetsi just before the break.
"It was a huge setback for us playing with a player less," Sredojevic was quoted as saying by KickOff. "However it happened and we could not influence anything in that regard.
"The only thing we could have done was to respond and the players responded very well in the field. They have worked for that minus one player. We have applied ourselves with a player less what of course it is not easy. However, each player extended and stretched himself with limits replacing the absence of Munetsi, giving the best.
"We tried our best. We got it and invested it. However it was not meant to be."
The win saw Bakgaga claim their maiden major cup in the club's history after gaining promotion to South Africa's top-flight in 2016.
Orlando Pirates player pic.twitter.com/OaACG7NqrS
— Man's Not Barry Roux ? (@AdvBarryRoux) December 10, 2018
Marshall Munetsi made a mistake with that tackle and that allowed Baroka back into the game. I don't know what was he thinking tackling like that while he's not under pressure. It's mistakes like that, that cost the team.
— ???? Calvin ???? (@RealCal22) December 9, 2018
Bro @MarshallMunetsi we Kaizer Chiefs fans would like to thank you for making us happy last night by ensuring that rats remains trophyless. That useless, stupid and unnecessary tackle of Yours really fixed this Country. What a peaceful weekend ???? pic.twitter.com/7iVebV22wy
— Sydwell ?? (@Sydwell_Malibe) December 9, 2018
