Citizens hold Bucs to draw in MTN8 semi clash

Thabiso Monyane of Orlando Pirates is challenged by Darwin Gonzalez Mendoza of Cape Town City during the 2024 MTN8 smifinal first leg game between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates at Cape Town Stadium on 28 August 2024 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

by Thando Mpembe

Wednesday Aug 28, 2024. 20:17

Cape Town City fought to come back from behind to hold Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw at the DHL Stadium in the MTN8 on Wednesday evening.

The match was delayed from its original date due to bad weather in the Western Cape and conditions were much improved as the two sides played a highly contested encounter.

The opening 15 minutes of the clash showed the home team as the more convincing side, but Orlando Pirates did well to capitalise on winning possession and a blistering pass from Thabiso Sesane made sure that Relebohile Mofokeng was through on goal.

The teenage sensation did well to get the ball into the back of the net and opened the scoring for the visitors. Shortly afterwards the Citizens worked hard to find a breakthrough but the scoreline would remain to the advantage of Pirates into the break.

Sipho Chaine made two crucial saves to stop the home team from finding the equaliser in the first half.

The second stanza started off with the same high tempo and Keanu Cupido was looking dangerous to the Buccaneers backline. As the attempts on goal kept coming from City, they eventually found the equaliser through Jaeden Rhodes strike in the 61st minute,

Rhodes and Cupido continued to give Pirates trouble, but the scoreline remained level until the final whistle was blown. Sipho Chaine took home the award for the Man of the Match as he did well to keep the Citizens from grabbing the lead.

The second leg will be played at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 15h00 CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Cape Town City (0) 1 (Rhodes 61’)

Orlando Pirates (1) 0 (Mofokeng 15’)

Cape Town City: D. Keet, T. Mkhize, K. Cupido, A. Petrus, T. Nyama, K. Mokotjo, J. Rhodes (K. Francis 90’), F. Makaringe, D. Gonzalez (H. Sereets 74’), H. Domingo (T. Goedeman 83’), P. Tjiueza (J. Ahshene 73’)

Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, D. Hotto, O. Ndah, T. Sesane, T. Monnaye, M. Saleng,(Gilberto 76’) T. Mbatha, R. Mofokeng (M. Makhaula 67’), P. Maswangyanyi. K. Dlamini (I. Maela 88’), T. Mabasa (E. Makgopa 76’)