Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the missed penalty was a crucial turning point in their MTN8 final defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers’ reign in the top-eight competition ended after a 2-0 defeat to Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Sundowns ended Pirates’ four-year dominance in the MTN8 competition by dethroning them as defending champions.

Ouaddou praised his players for giving everything, sticking to the game plan and delivering a high-level performance, while insisting the Buccaneers will continue fighting to defend their other honours this season.

“Look, there are two – one moment in the game. I think when we come back with the penalty, I think it was a good momentum to come to score, I think if we had scored maybe the game could’ve been different. But I’ve nothing to approach to my boys, they gave everything,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV after the game.

“We wanted to win that trophy and get history again, but it’s football, they gave everything. We tried to be disciplined to respect the plan, but of course at the end we let sort of space because we wanted to score so maybe Sundowns could’ve scored a lot of goals as well.

“But I think really the momentum was the penalty, otherwise I think the boys applied exactly what we wanted. We had the possession, I have to see the number of chances we created, the season is long. We’re going to fight to keep this title, but it’s good we are disappointed for our fans of course. But I think South African fans have seen a good football match today, high level and that’s it but I’ve nothing to approach to my boys,” he concluded.