Kamogelo Sebelebele scored late to save Orlando Pirates a draw in their first leg MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou came into the fixture under immense pressure with back-to-back defeats to start the league campaign and made four changes to his XI that lost to Marumo Gallants in mid-week.
Deano van Rooyen, Evidence Makgopa, Mike Sebelebele and Thalante Mbatha were introduced back in line-up, while Relebohile Mofokeng also returned and it proved to appease the home supporters by judgement of the cheering as the names were announced at eSgodini.
And while they were fluent in the opening half, Sundowns eventually took control of the game and carved out the better of the chances, with Arthur Sales running the show in the absence of Lucas Ribeiro Costa, and after Themba Zwane had to be stretchered off with injury.
They eventually took the lead when Teboho Mokoena headed home Marcello Allende’s corner taking the goal advantage into the break.
Tashreeq Matthews and Sebelebele both had the ball in the net too – but both efforts were ruled out for offside.
The momentum shifted, all that was present going into the break were the Masandawana faithful, with the Ghost stunned in the icy conditions in Orlando.
Iqraam Rayners, and Patrick Maswanganyi both had chances early in the second half but neither could find the target in what proceeded to be an end to end affair.
Makgopa had two glorious opportunities in the 78th and 79th minute, first rushing his shot after a mistake in Sundowns’ defence before his header following a corner only hit the post.
But pressure from Pirates mounted and Sebelebele eventually rewarded Ouaddou’s men after being found by a long ball from Mbokazi before calmly slotting home.
The tie sets up a nice contest the second leg in Tshwane next week for a place in the final of the 2025 edition of the domestic cup competition.
