Orlando Pirates will play in their third successive MTN 8 final after defeating Cape Town City 2-0 in the second leg semi-final in Orlando, making the aggregate score of 3-1.
The defending champions came into the encounter needing a at least goalless draw to advance, however weren’t going to settle for that as Tshegofatso Mabasa opened the scoring with his head in the 24th minute and Deon Hotto the winner in the 43rd minute.
The hosts had been knocking before the first goal through the combinations of Thalente Mbatha and Monnapule Saleng who was flagged offside in the 15th minute, while in a good position to score and again in the 20th minute through a Saleng corner kick which Daren Keet saved. When Pirates won another corner two minutes later, Saleng took a short one, passed to Relebohile Mofokeng who located Mabasa in the box to break the deadlock.
City had a chance before conceding, in the opening five minutes when they won a corner which captain Thami Mkhize headed over the bar. Pirates had a scary moment in the 27th when Olisa Ndah almost scored in his own net trying to defend a Darwin Gonzalez free-kick but his goalkeeper Sipho Chaine’s quick reaction saved the day.
Three minutes to the break Pirates won a set-piece outside the box after Patrick Maswanganyi was fouled. Deon Hotto stepped up and converted to hand the side a 2-0 lead at half time.
At the start of the second half Eric Tinkler made a double substitution bringing in Amadou Soukouna and Lorenzo Gordinho for Haashim Domingo and Kamohelo Mokotjo.
But Pirates continued to put City under pressure and were almost rewarded six minutes into the half. Gordinho was careless with the ball and Mabasa capitalised and took it, shot at goal and brought out Keet to make a super save.
Pirates missed a golden chance to triple their lead in the 64th minute when Mofokeng passed Keet and with only the net to beat he missed the target and hit the side of the net. A few minutes later it was Saleng who missed from a Mabasa cross.
Pirates will meet the winner of the semi-final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch in the final.
