Relebohile Mofokeng marked his first official appearance for Royal Union Saint-Gilloise by scoring the decisive penalty as his new club beat Club Brugge to win the Belgian Super Cup on Friday evening.
The Bafana Bafana international was introduced shortly after the hour mark, with Union Saint-Gilloise trailing 1-0 in a fiercely contested meeting between the Belgian rivals.
The match appeared to be heading towards defeat for the Belgian champions until Kevin Mac Allister levelled the score in the 77th minute. Neither side could find a winning goal before the end of regulation time, sending the contest to a penalty shoot-out.
With the pressure building, Mofokeng was selected to take Union Saint-Gilloise’s fifth penalty. The 21-year-old showed considerable composure, sending his effort into the top corner to complete a 5-4 shoot-out victory.
The result gave Royal Union Saint-Gilloise the first trophy of the season and provided Mofokeng with an ideal introduction to competitive football in Belgium.
The former Orlando Pirates player had already attracted significant attention following his move to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, and his decisive contribution against Club Brugge is likely to strengthen his standing with the club’s supporters.
Mofokeng has settled quickly into his new surroundings and has continued to make a positive impression on both his team-mates and the Union Saint-Gilloise fanbase. His penalty was his first major moment in the club’s colours, arriving in a match where the margin for error was particularly small.
The Belgian Super Cup is the eighth trophy of Mofokeng’s career, an impressive collection for a player who is still only 21.
His latest medal also adds to a promising start to his move from South Africa. Rather than simply featuring in his first competitive match, Mofokeng played a direct part in deciding the outcome and handled the responsibility of the final Union penalty with confidence.
Royal Union Saint-Gilloise will now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoffs, which begin on Tuesday. Mofokeng is expected to have another important role as the Belgian champions pursue a place in Europe’s leading club competition.
Having already delivered under pressure in the Belgian Super Cup, the South African international will hope his winning penalty can provide momentum for the next stage of Union Saint-Gilloise’s campaign.
