South African fans had another proud night in Europe on Thursday. Relebohile Mofokeng played the full 90 minutes as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise drew 1 to 1 with Real Sociedad in the Europa League. The Spanish club had Mikel Oyarzabal in their group, a World Cup winner with Spain.
It wasn’t a win. But for a 21 year old who was playing in the PSL a few months ago, it was a big evening.
How the match went
The game was played at the Den Dreef Stadium in Heverlee, Belgium. Fans searching for union vs real sociedad or usg vs real sociedad found a tight contest from the first whistle.
The first half had no goals. The Belgian side pressed well and gave the visitors very little room. Real Sociedad looked a bit flat.
That changed right after the break. Beñat Turrientes came on as a substitute and scored in the 46th minute. Just like that, the home crowd went quiet.
Union SG didn’t fold. They kept pushing, and in the 88th minute Sekou Keita found the equaliser. Then came a nervy finish. A loose back pass gave Real Sociedad one last chance, but they missed it. A point each was fair.
Lineups for the big night
Plenty of fans wanted the royale union saint-gilloise vs real sociedad lineups before kick off. Here is how the home side lined up, based on the match data.
- Goalkeeper: Hervé Koffi
- Defence: Nohim Chibani, Massiré Sylla and Nikki Havenaar
- Midfield: Kamiel van de Perre, Louis Patris, Besfort Zeneli, Darius Olaru and Guilherme Smith
- Attack: Mateo Biondic and Mofokeng
Union SG played with a back three and two strikers. Mofokeng was one of the two up front, which gave him plenty of freedom to run at defenders.
On the bench, changes came in the second half. Chibani made way around the hour mark, and Olaru went off later. Keita came on, and within minutes he was the hero.
Real Sociedad set up in a 4 4 2 shape. Turrientes replaced Yangel Herrera at half time, and that switch turned out to be a smart one for the Spanish coach.
Mofokeng was busy all night
Mofokeng didn’t score, but you could see him in the game all night. Match stats credit him with two shots on target, the best return in the home attack. One report described his display as lively, and that sounds right.
He ran into space. He chased lost balls. He asked questions of a back line that has seen a lot of European football.
Think of it like this. A striker’s night isn’t only about goals. Good movement pulls defenders out of place, and that opens room for teammates. Mofokeng did a lot of that work.
From Pirates to a World Cup winner’s pitch
His rise has been quick. Mofokeng played for South Africa at the 2026 World Cup, then left Orlando Pirates in July to join union saint gilloise. Now he’s sharing a pitch with the captain of a Spanish club, a man who helped Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final.
Oyarzabal finished that tournament with five goals and an assist. He’s the first player from Real Sociedad to win the trophy. So yes, it’s a proud thing for a young South African to be on the same pitch as him.
His Belgian story so far is simple to tell:
- He scored the winning penalty in the Super Cup shootout against Club Brugge.
- He scored on his Europa League debut, a 3 to 0 away win at Viktoria Plzen.
- He has scored in the Belgian Pro League and set up a goal against Royal Antwerp.
Coach Pitso Mosimane has also recalled him to the national team. You can follow Bafana news on the SAFA website.
royale union saint-gilloise vs real sociedad standings
Many readers also asked about the royale union saint-gilloise vs real sociedad standings. The numbers are easy to read, and they favour the Belgian club.
| Club | Played | Points | Goal difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union SG | 2 | 4 | Plus 3 |
| Real Sociedad | 2 | 1 | Minus 1 |
Union SG have one win and one draw. Real Sociedad are still without a win in the competition. League tables change every matchday, so check the live version on the official UEFA Europa League page for the latest picture.
Why this point matters
A draw against a Spanish side might not sound exciting. But think about where royale union saint-gilloise were a few weeks ago. They missed out on the Champions League in the qualifiers. Many clubs would have sulked. Instead, they’ve grown into the Europa League.
They’re also unbeaten in the league this season. Coach David Hubert has said he has more than eleven starters, and that depth helps when a team juggles different competitions. Mofokeng’s flexibility helps too, since he can play wide or in the middle.
What it means for South African fans
South Africans have watched players move abroad and struggle to settle. It’s refreshing to see someone find his feet this fast. Mofokeng looks calm, hungry and happy.
Still, let’s keep our feet on the ground. It’s early. He’ll face tougher matches, busy schedules and the odd bad game. That’s part of every player’s story.
If he keeps this form, though, good things should follow. The goals will likely come. And every strong night in Europe helps show that talent from home can compete at this level.
What’s next
Union SG now go back to the Belgian Pro League before the next Europa League date. Mofokeng will want to turn those busy runs into goals and assists.
For now, one thing is clear. Relebohile Mofokeng didn’t look out of place against a European club led by a World Cup winner. For South African fans, that’s a simple and easy reason to feel proud.
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