Orlando Pirates are set for a mouth-watering MTN8 semifinal tie with Gauteng rivals Mamelodi Sundowns following the conclusion of the first round of the competition on Sunday night. The two giants of South African football were drawn against each other, with the defending champions set to host the 2021 winners in the first of two legs.
Both make up half of the teams that survived the opening weekend of competitive action as football returned in the country. It all began with the Soweto Giants launching yet another pursuit for the title as they looked to keep the trophy for a fourth consecutive season.
They breezed past Polokwane City in front of a packed Orlando Stadium on Saturday, aided by first-half goals from Oswin Appollis and Patrick Maswanganyi in a fairly comfortable 2-0 win. Their opponents in the last four turned in a dominant display of their own a day later, brushing aside the challenge posed by Richards Bay to secure a 4-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
A dramatic draw that followed the latter fixture set up a dream clash, reminiscent of the 2022 edition of the competition which kicked off with a tensely-contested goalless draw in the first leg at Orlando Stadium. This was before the Buccaneers turned on the heat in the deciding leg at Peter Mokaba Stadium where Kermit Erasmus edged the visitors ahead early in the clash before a Monnapule Saleng brace that sealed a 3-0 win.
It’s a victory that proved significant in Pirates’ current run in the tournament, as they went on to clinch the first of three consecutive titles, beating AmaZulu in the final. Their bitter rivals now stand in the way of an unprecedented streak, which could stretch to four titles.
The Tshwane Giants will not only be looking to put an end to their Soweto counterparts’ dominance in the competition, but will also be seeking their first title since going all the way in the 2021. The two sides have served up some memorable cup clashes, including a dramatic Nedbank Cup final in Mbombela in June 2024.
They have a chance to serve up another unforgettable chapter in their rivalry in the semifinal tie scheduled to get underway on the weekend of 16 August with the deciding leg kicking off a week later.
