It’s crunch time in the MTN8 as Orlando Pirates host Cape Town City in the second leg of their semi-final tie at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. The Soweto Giants claimed a crucial away goal in the opening leg in midweek when the two sides played to a one-all draw, but it’s only a slight advantage as they gear up for another testing assignment against determined opposition.
Form Guide
It has so far been a season of do-or-die outings for the home team, who have been by far the busier of the two throughout the month.Pirates will be taking to the field for the fifth time since the start of the campaign as they look to continue their participation in two separate cup competitions.
They beat SuperSport United at home in the MTN8 quarter-finals and later advanced in the CAF Champions League after a 4-0 victory against Madagascar’s Disciples, who had held them to a goalless draw on the road.
Fresh off another stalemate away from home, the Buccaneers will be eager to maintain a winning streak at Orlando Stadium, where victory guarantees them a spot in their fifth cup final in two years.
They come up against a side that will be encouraged by their strong finish to their home leg of the semi-final tie, where they claimed a vital equaliser to prevent an uphill climb on their visit to Soweto. It was only the second fixture of the season for City, who edged past Sekhukhune United in their quarter-final which took place in the second week of August.
With just three days between fixtures this time around, they will have dusted off the cobwebs as they look to become the first team to knock Pirates out of the MTN8 in three years.
Team News
Injured new signing Carlinhos is likely to miss out once again for City as he continues to recover from a knee injury picked up in the off-season. Another recent recruit that may not feature is Amadou Soukona, who was not part of the match day squad on Wednesday as he awaited his work permit.
The Buccaneers meanwhile handed a debut to Angolan forward Gilberto, who could have a bigger role to play on home turf, while Deano van Rooyen is unavailable for the remainder of the tournament as he is cup-tied after turning out for Stellenbosch in the quarterfinals.
On the injury front, Tapelo Xoki and Bandile Shandu edge closer to a return and could be in action in the coming weeks.
Key Players
Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates): The tall defender has established himself as one of the leaders in the Bucs setup, and will be key in a game where the hosts are determined to keep things tight at the back. Ndah is not only crucial in derailing the opposition as they push forward, but has also proven crucial in initiating attacks from deep.
Jaedin Rhodes (Cape Town City): The young forward will be buoyed by his performance in the first leg, where netted the equaliser to enhance his side’s chances in the tie. Rhodes finished last season with seven goal contributions and has found the net in each of his last three appearances for City.
Head-to-Head
The first leg produced the ninth stalemate between Pirates and City in 18 meetings across competitions. This ended a run of four consecutive games that have produced a winner.
In a rivalry that kicked off nearly eight years ago, the Buccaneers remain unbeaten at Orlando Stadium where they boast four wins including a victory in their only home cup fixture against the Citizens.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL and SABC Sport. You can also follow live updates posted across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.
Tickets to attend the match are available online at TicketPro as well as selected outlets nationwide.
SOURCED FROM THE ORLANDO PIRATES WEBSITE.
