MTN8 action is next up for Mamelodi Sundowns as they head to Orlando Stadium for their sold-out first leg of the semifinal round on Saturday afternoon. After a 4-0victory against Richards Bay in the quarterfinal of the competition, they are set to face Orlando Pirates in a two-legged test.
The trip to Soweto provides a quick turnaround after the Tuesday league fixture and coach Miguel Cardoso will undoubtedly see it as an opportunity to sharpen the team with a tough test on the road. To look ahead to the MTN8 tie at Orlando Stadium, as he makes his debut in the competition, the Portuguese tactician admitted the beauty of playing such big games in the genesis of a season.
“It’s interesting to play such important matches so early in the season. This MTN8 cup brings high-level matches in a moment where teams are still developing and preparing for the season ahead. It will be important for us to hit the ground running in such a match. These kind of matches always have beautiful stories that will be written and that will be reliant on the moments that will happen in the game. It is a match that will need us to control certain emotions and focus on the right emotions that will lead us to a positive result.”
Pirates come from the back of two consecutive losses but this isn’t surety that it will be a walk in the park for the Pretoria-based side and the coach has emphasised that the Sea Robbers’ past results will not matter on Saturday. In recent times, the meetings between the two have become the most-watched and no surprise it is already sold-out. The head coach stated he anticipates a physically demanding encounter but the mandate remains to emerge the victorious side.
“It’ll be my first time meeting Pirates in a cup match, so past encounters between the two sides will not be a factor when we are preparing for this specific match. I will not dwell much in our previous meetings, the same way we will not focus on Pirates’ past two results. This is a totally different game that will have a story of its own and the team to walk away with a victory here will need to have showed their best performance on both legs. That’s what we hope to do – deliver an outstanding performance,” the coach said.
“To advance to the final round, we will need to play with an intention to be competitive so we can win duals, have the right spaces to play and cope with the aggression we going to suffer in. We are looking forward to this fixture,” he continued.
Most notably, Orlando Pirates has experienced a string of victories where the MTN8 is concerned and they will be looking to scoop their fourth title in a row. This two-legged semifinal round presents Masandawana with an opportunity to not only fight to advance to the final they last reached in the 2023/24, but to also deny the Buccaneers their fourth consecutive title dream.
Mamelodi Sundowns will do battle Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon at the Orlando Stadium. Kick-off has been scheduled for 15H00, live on SuperSport TV and SABC Sport.
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