In a wild and turbulent afternoon in Atteridgeville, Orlando Pirates played with fire, embraced the chaos and simply refused to be knocked out of “their” MTN8 competition.
They flirted with danger in this utterly entertaining football match that was on a knife edge most of the time — where Mamelodi Sundowns landed the first blow but the Buccaneers walked through the storm, and came out on the other side 4-1 winners after a one-sided penalty shootout.
The Buccaneers have secured a place in their fourth successive MTN8 final where they will play the winner of the other semifinal between Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC.
They could not be separated over two legs that ended 1-1 and it was up to the lottery of penalties after 90 minutes at the packed Lucas Moripe Stadium, where Pirates spot-kick takers showed nerves of steel to take the team over the line.
Pirates players Deon Hotto, Abdoulaye Mariko, Sipho Mbule and Tshegofatso Mabasa were spot-on, beating Sundowns keeper Ronwen Williams, who is usually good with penalties.
On the other hand, Sundowns were disappointing as Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende penalties were saved by Sipho Chaine, while Lebo Mothiba was their only scorer.
Earlier in the match, Sundowns took the lead through Iqraam Rayners after 16 minutes but, just as they did in the first leg, Pirates pulled one back through red-hot Kamogelo Sebelebele in the 74th minute.
There were no further goals in the match, and when referee Eugene Mdluli blew the final whistle after 90 minutes, the match went straight to penalties, and Pirates prevailed to give under-pressure coach Abdeslam Ouaddou some breathing space.
For Masandawana, their wait for success in this competition continues. They last l won it in 2021, when they beat Cape Town City 3-2 on penalties in Durban.
The Brazilians don’t have time to dwell on this loss, as they must immediately turn their attention to the Betway Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
Tempers started running high as early as the sixth minute, when Sebelebele went down on the edge of the Sundowns box, and referee Mdluli angered Sundowns players as he did not blow for a similar incident earlier.
Sundowns took the lead when Rayners continued his good scoring form in a goal that made Pirates’ mission more difficult but they were not finished, as Man of the Match Sebelebele had the final say later.
Plan A was not working for coach Ouaddou, and he changed his tactics after 37 minutes when he replaced an ineffective Patrick Maswanganyi with Bandile Shandu, which proved to be an inspired intervention.
The early substitution saw Sebelebele move further up on the right wing, Oswin Appollis moving to the left wing, and Relebohile Mofokeng taking the creative No 10 role, and Pirates started to be more assured.
Cardoso did not make any immediate changes at the break and the Brazilians started the brighter of the two in the second half. A notable early moment saw Rayners strike the upright after he was given space in the box.
Pirates reacted a few minutes later with Makgopa’s cross forcing an acrobatic clearance from Keanu Cupido and Thalente Mbatha tested Williams, who reacted with an acrobatic save.
After numerous chances from both sides, Sundowns came increasingly under pressure and Sebelebele, who rescued a late goal in the first leg, rose to the occasion again to draw Pirates level until the end of 90 minutes.
Downs coach Miguel Cardoso made several changes to the team that beat Magesi FC in the league midweek by recalling Grant Kekana, Keanu Cupido, Teboho Mokoena, Marcelo Allende, Tashreeq Matthews, Arthur Sales and Iqraam Rayners to the starting line-up.
He left Bathusi Aubaas, Sphelele Mkhulise, Siyabonga Mabena, Gomolemo Kekana, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Peter Shalulile, the Namibian player who equalled Siyabonga Nonvethe’s all-time record in the PSL with 129 strikes.
Ouaddou went with the strongest possible team, and his defence was marshalled by teenagers Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lebone Seema, who covered themselves in glory.
Elsewhere, there were places for Hotto, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Appollis, Sebelebele, Mbatha, Sihle Nduli, and Evidence Makgopa, and he introduced Mbule towards the end of the game.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1
Orlando Pirates (0) 1
Scorers:
Sundowns: (Iqraam Rayners 16m)
Pirates: (Kamogelo Sebelebele 74m)
Match ended 2-2 on aggregate (Pirates won 4-1 on penalties)
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