On a tense evening at Orlando Stadium, the MTN8 tournament Pirates vs Sundowns draw had all the marks of a modern rivalry, control from Mamelodi Sundowns, defiance from Orlando Pirates, and a sting in the tail. The first leg finished 1-1, a scoreline shaped by Teboho Mokoena’s first half header and Kamogelo Sebelebele’s late equaliser that resets the semifinal before next weekend’s return in Pretoria.
A delayed kick off and early drama
The match started slightly late after Sundowns were held up in traffic, yet the opening exchanges lost none of their intensity. Within 20 minutes both teams had the ball in the net, only for offsides to curtail celebrations, and TV replays suggested the Pirates effort should have stood with Sebelebele onside.
There was an early setback for the visitors when Themba Zwane could not continue, Jayden Adams came on in the 14th minute and Sundowns adjusted on the fly. Pirates tried to push Deon Hotto and Kamogelo Sebelebele into the spaces behind, an approach that nearly paid off when Sebelebele shot wide after being set up by Hotto in the 26th minute.
Sundowns impose themselves and Mokoena strikes
Sundowns grew into their rhythm and controlled much of the first half, their reward arrived from a set piece that underlined their precision. Marcelo Allende’s corner located Teboho Mokoena and the midfielder guided a firm header beyond Sipho Chaine for 1-0.
Two minutes later, Chaine preserved the contest with sharp reflexes to deny Tashreeq Matthews from close range. At the interval Pirates trailed, and the sense was that Sundowns had established a platform built on possession and well timed counters.
Momentum swings as Pirates chase parity
Pirates came out with intent after the break, chasing the equaliser with quicker combinations and a higher press. Sundowns still carved the clearer chance early in the half, a one on one situation that Chaine read superbly to keep his side alive.
As the half wore on, Orlando Stadium sensed a shift. Evidence Makgopa pounced on a defensive error in the 78th minute, only to rush his effort and shoot straight at Ronwen Williams, a let off that felt costly in the moment.
Sebelebele rewards persistence with a late release
With time slipping away, the Buccaneers refused to wilt, and their pressure finally cracked the door open in the 87th minute. A long ball from Mbekezeli Mbokazi found Kamogelo Sebelebele, who held his nerve and beat Williams with a low finish to square the tie.
It was a fitting end to a performance defined by persistence. The goal validated Pirates’ belief that a moment would arrive if they stayed brave, and it pushed the semifinal back to level terms ahead of Pretoria.
Ouaddou salutes character and asks for patience
After the final whistle, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou centred his analysis on resilience and growth. He acknowledged a gap between performance and results but praised the spirit that dragged Pirates back into the contest.
“The content today was interesting, we showed some character, some strengths as well from our boys.”
“We showed this aim to play forward and to create chances, but in football sometimes it’s not easy because the result has to match with the performance but at the moment the results are not matching with the performance of the boys.”
“Let’s hope that in the future we will take results and everything will be aligned and I just want our fans to be patient. I know it’s not the work in a big club like that, but I hope they will be patient with us.”
Ouaddou also framed the tie as a two act story, urging calm before the second leg. He said his team wanted to win on the night, conceded from a set piece, yet showed energy and character to respond.
“I think it was a great game from both teams.”
“Both teams tried to play some good football with intensity. I think it’s what the fans are expecting from such game.”
“Let’s say it’s the first half, there’s still a second half. Everything will be decided in the second game, we still have the opportunity to qualify but it was a good game.”
Cardoso reflects on control, emotions and a costly mistake
On the opposite touchline, Miguel Cardoso cut a measured figure, satisfied with Sundowns’ first half control but dissatisfied with the way the match slipped in the final stretch. He spoke about managing different phases and the need for clear heads under pressure.
“I predicted beforehand that this match would be a match of different moments.”
“When you have two strong teams playing for such an important trophy, despite we are still only in the semifinal, and both wanting to go to the final, then it’s obvious that you can have different moments to manage throughout the match.”
“We also know that Orlando Pirates tries to start the matches very strong. It was important for us to also start strong. I think we managed the first half very well, we dealt with their intensity. We knew what kind of aggression we would get. We prevented them and gradually we started taking control of the match, because it’s the way we should always play.”
But as legs tired and emotions crept in, Cardoso felt decision making wavered. In his view, the equaliser came from a mistake that turned a possibly comfortable result into a stalemate.
“I think we started the second half quite well, but then as time went by, we start losing the capacity to have all this brainwork, to think the right things and the emotions grew inside the pitch, and because of that, we had difficulty to cope with Pirates in the last 10 minutes.”
“Their goal came from a mistake and it cost us because the result should have been very comfortable. Now everything is back to how it was before we started.”
Radiopane talking point and the value of mentality
Team selection has followed Ouaddou throughout the opening weeks, particularly the choice at centre forward. Boitumelo Radiopane is yet to score this season after starting three of the first four matches, and he began from the bench in this semifinal first leg.
Ouaddou defended the youngster’s contribution and attitude, noting that a striker’s arc is often measured by work habits as much as goals. He gave Radiopane a short cameo against Sundowns and highlighted his response.
“This kind of player, it’s easy for a coach, he has a fantastic mentality. He is well educated as a player, as a man, he is respectful. He is a worker, so I’m lucky to have such players to train.”
“He’s a professional. It means when we call him for duty, he doesn’t have any problem. He doesn’t mind sitting on the bench and then comes on to give everything. I gave him 10 minutes against Sundowns, and I said, ‘son you have to score your goal’. And he nearly scored, he gave everything.”
“This is the mentality a coach is looking for from his players and all my players, I’m really lucky with all the players I have at Pirates, they have fantastic mentality, it’s one of the first dressing rooms I have seen such a great mentality of the players.”
The thin margins that defined the first leg
This semifinal was shaped by details, a set piece on one side and a direct ball on the other, plus a series of saves that kept the score within reach. Sipho Chaine’s interventions were crucial, while Ronwen Williams produced a routine but important stop from Makgopa’s late chance.
Refereeing calls added another layer, with early offsides removing two goals from the ledger, and television replays suggesting Pirates were unlucky with the flag. Such moments tend to even out over two legs, yet they will surely stay in the minds of players and supporters as the second act approaches.
Key takeaways for the second leg in Pretoria
- Set pieces remain decisive, Sundowns scored from a corner and will fancy repeat opportunities,
- Decision making under pressure tilted the final minutes, Cardoso’s concern about brainwork will be central to Sundowns’ preparation,
- Pirates demonstrated resilience and depth of belief, their late surge and Sebelebele’s composure show they can live with the champions.
The wider MTN8 picture
While this tie stands on a knife edge, the other semifinal tilted in Stellenbosch FC’s favour with a 2-0 first leg win over Sekhukhune United at Danie Craven Stadium. First half goals from Kazie Enyinnaya and Devin Titus give Steve Barker’s side a cushion before the return in Polokwane next Saturday.
It places added intrigue on the second weekend, a scenario where both Pretoria and Polokwane will decide who moves on to the final. For neutral fans, the prospect of two tight second legs should be irresistible.
What it all means heading into Pretoria
Pirates can take confidence from the way they wrestled back control late, found an equaliser, and matched Sundowns’ intensity. Sundowns will point to their first half control, the chances they created, and the belief that a cleaner second half will tilt the tie in their favour.
In the end, both coaches left Orlando with a shared truth, this semifinal now rests on 90 minutes in Pretoria. The margins are fine, the emotions are raw, and the stage is set for another test of nerve and clarity, a contest where one more precise header or one more composed finish could write the next chapter.
