Pirates stumble against Stellies, but book epic MTN8 final against Sundowns

In a closely contested encounter, Orlando Pirates succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against a brave Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 semi-final second-leg at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

Even with this setback, the Buccaneers, who are the defending champions, leveraged the away goals rule to clinch their place in the final, as the aggregate scoreline stood deadlocked at 2-2.

This captivating twist of fate sets the stage for the Soweto giants to square off against Mamelodi Sundowns in the eagerly awaited final, scheduled to take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 7 October.

Just two weeks ago, the Buccaneers orchestrated a remarkable comeback from a one-goal deficit at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, ultimately claiming a 2-1 victory in the first leg against a 10-man Stellenbosch.

Before their second-leg showdown, both Pirates and Stellies endured losses in their midweek DStv Premiership matches against Sundowns and Moroka Swallows, respectively. Both teams were eager to turn their fortunes around and conclude the week with a positive result.

A vacant spot to take on Sundowns in the final was up for grabs, and both Pirates and Stellies were in no rush to answer any questions early on; instead, they felt out each other as the crowd trickled in at the iconic arena.

The Cape Winelands outfit had to say goodbye to another key player this week as midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa made a move to Kaizer Chiefs just before the transfer window deadline at midnight on Friday. This marked the second high-profile departure for Stellenbosch, following Junior Mendieta's move to Sundowns after the 2022/23 season.

In Mthethwa’s place, Genino Palace slotted in alongside Sihle Nduli against the Buccaneers, while Athenkosi Mcaba stood in for the