The MTN8 took centre stage this past weekend with defending champions, Orlando Pirates, playing to a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their semi-final clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s charges are looking to defend their title while coach Miguel Cardoso’s team is out to change their fortunes in this season-opening cup competition as they’ve not had much joy in it in recent years. The two teams go to the second leg at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday in what should be an exciting game as only one of the two teams will progress to the final. Bucs reaching the final will present them with an opportunity to win it a record fourth time while Sundowns progressing will put them in a good position to repeat what they last achieved in 2021 when they beat Cape Town City on penalties. That was Downs’ first win since 2007, which goes to show the team’s poor run in the competition.
In the other semi-final clash, Stellenbosch FC hosted Sekhukhune United at Danie Craven Stadium on the same day. The two teams went into the clash on the back of contrasting results. Coach Steve Barker’s team drew 1-1 away to Magesi FC in midweek while coach Eric Tinkler’s charges beat TS Galaxy building up to this clash.
In the MTN8 semi-final, first-half goals from Enyinnaya Godswill and Devin Titus, scored 10 minutes apart, proved enough for the Winelands side to take a convincing 2-0 lead to the second leg on Saturday.
With that brief summary of the MTN8, have a go at selecting your Team of the Week and see how close you get to the official Soccer Laduma selection.
