Mamelodi Sundowns finally lifted the MTN8 trophy in its current guise but had to rely on penalties (3-2) to beat tough Cape Town City after Saturday’s final at Moses Mabhida Stadium ended 1-1 after normal and extra time.

Downs won their first top 8 since 2007. The Brazilians dominated the opening three-quarters, opening the scoring through Thapelo Morena (24th minute), though even in that period City were always a threat on the counterattack. The Citizens equalised through Fagrie Lakay (75th), and piled on the pressure at the end.

TimesLIVE rates the City players:

Cape Town City

Hugo Marques 7: Solid and made some decent saves to keep the score at 1-0 when Sundowns dominated the opening two-thirds of the game. One spectacular stop in the shoot-out too.

Thamsanqa Mkhize 7: Never gets beaten at the back, and his tireless running kept Downs left-back Lyle Lakay from being much of a force on the overlap.

Nathan Fasika 4: Rough in the challenge but effective as he and Taariq Fielies kept Sundowns’ dangerous attack largely at bay. Paid for his physicality with a horrendously-timed challenge on substitute Sphelele Mkhulise to be dismissed for a second yellow in extra time (108th).

Taariq Fielies 6: After he was robbed of the ball and then beaten again by Thabiso Kutumela to allow Thapelo Morena’s opening strike for Sundowns, recovered to be a big presence for the rest of the game.

Edmilson Dove 5: Solid defensively but did not offer the energy in attack of his replacement Terrence Mashego.

Thato Mokeke 5: Worked hard but, with Nodada, edged by the class of Sundowns’ Rivaldo Coetzee and Andile Jali.

Thabo Nodada 5: Worked hard but, with Mokeke, edged by the class of Sundowns’ Coetzee and Jali.

Mduduzi Mdantsane 6: City’s No.10 is the organiser and schemer of the attack, and did that with his trademark neatness and ingenuity.

Bradley Ralani 6: Contained for much of the game by Downs’ right-back Khuliso Mudau, but a classy presence on the wing and produced the pass for Fagrie Lakay’s equaliser.

Fagrie Lakay 7: Ran hard and worked tirelessly, his persistence paying off when he took Ralani’s pass and beat Onyango — a feat on its own — with a fine finish in the 75th. Saw his penalty saved.

Craig Martin 5: Quiet on the right wing. Mostly tied up by Lyle Lakay.

Substitutes:

Abdul Ajagun (for Nodada, 66th) 6: Brought attacking momentum at a time when City were firmly on the back foot. Saw his penalty saved.

Terrence Mashego (for Martin, 71st) 7: More energetic from left wingback than Dove, who dropped into a three-man central defence as Tinkler changed formations effectively. Should he have started though?

Mpho Makola (for Mdantsane, 71st) 5: The less effective of Tinkler’s double substitution.

Relebogile Mokhuoane (for Mokeke, 96th): Unable to make much impact in a stalemate extra time period.

Khanyisa Mayo (for Ralani, 105th) 5: Not much impact in extra tine and his weak penalty was saved by Onyango.

Unused Substitutes: Bongani Mpandle, Keanu Cupido