Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena was pleased to have finally won the MTN8 title after beating Cape Town City in a thrilling penalty shootout on Saturday.

The Brazilians ran out 3-2 winners on penalty after playing out to a 1-1 after extra time when Fagrie Lakay cancelled out Thapelo Morena’s first-half opener.

However, Denis Onyango proved to be the difference between the two sides as he made five penalty saves as his side were crowned MTN8 champions for the first time since 2007.

“Don’t we love to make it difficult. But credit to Cape Town City, they are a very very good side. They keep fighting and you’ve seen throughout the season that the games are never over until they’re over for them. They’ve always got the possibilities of scoring,” Mokwena told SuperSport TV after the game.

“When you leave the game open for so long and you create so many chances and you don’t put them to bed that becomes lesson number one. Lesson number two we are not a very good side without the ball. In certain moments in the second half, we were very naive and didn’t look after the ball. And they are a very good side when they have possession. Credit to City, they’re a top side with good players. It was not easy.

“When you keep missing chance, I mean that chance when Thapelo had one on one you’re hoping that goes in. We got situations where if we make a better pass then it’s a better situation to score. When you miss these chances the emotional attachment to the game drops.

“When you beat worthy opponents like this it feels a lot sweeter.

“The shoot-out was difficult. Congrats to the team. We’ve delivered the one that’s been missing from the cabinet and now we focus on the lessons we take out. It’s a long season ahead. We have a very difficult game on Wednesday. For now, recover, recoup and travel back to Johannesburg and fight for three points on Wednesday.”