MTN8: Pirates vs Sundowns – Five classic clashes

Orlando Pirates will host Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal on Sunday, the latest instalment in a fierce rivalry down the years that have more recently swung in the favour of The Brazilians.

It will be a huge challenge for Pirates to overcome the defending MTN8 champions, especially over two legs … and given recent results.

We look back at five classic clashes between the two sides.

1990

Sundowns would be crowned league champions at the end of the season, but they were handed a right old spanking by Pirates along the way.

The Buccaneers also had a good campaign and finished third, with this their highlight of the season, and to this day their biggest ever victory over The Brazilians.

They scored their goals via Ian Palmer, a brace from Bashin Mahlangu and Brazilian forward Pio Nogueira as they ran riot.

What made this result more startling was that Sundowns thumped Pirates 6-1 in the BP Top 6 that same season.

1993

Sundowns again ended up winning the league title in 1993, finishing three points ahead of second-placed Moroka Swallows, so this was another crucial victory in a five-goal thriller with Ernest Chirwali scoring what proved the winner late on.

Tall Bafana striker Phil Masinga and Sizwe Motaung scored the other goals for Sundowns, with the latter netting an own goal in favour of Pirates as well. Congolese striker Etienne Nsunda got the other goal for The Buccaneers.

It did much to boost the confidence of Sundowns on their march to the league title.

1997-98

This clash was the first leg of the Rothmans Cup semifinal and proved a see-saw thriller. Nigerian Raphael Chukwu had Sundowns ahead midway through the opening period, but by halftime, it was Pirates who hit the front.

Andries Sebola and Bruce Ramokhadi got on the score sheet for the Buccaneers, while Sundowns striker Daniel Mudau had a goal ruled out.

It looked as though Pirates would hold on for the win, but in the dying seconds of the game, Page Mahlangu found an equaliser for The Brazilians.

The teams tightened up for the second game that finished 0-0, with Sundowns advancing to the final on the away goals rule, where they lost to Kaizer Chiefs.

1999-00

Another clash which swung first one way then the other, ending up all square in a season in which Sundowns took the league title and Pirates finished second, though some way off the pace.

The Brazilians led midway through the first half with two goals in three minutes from Alain Amougou and Daniel Mudau.

But Pirates drew level before the break via Phumlani Mkhize and Joseph Ngake. And, the Buccaneers completed the turnaround when they led on 52 minutes thanks to Thabo Mngomeni.

But just three minutes later Sundowns drew level at 3-3 when Issac Shai found the back of the net. It proved the end of the scoring in a six-goal thriller.

2016-17

Not such a great game if you are a Pirates fan, but a historic result that inflicted the worst defeat in professional football on Pirates in their 80-year history.

Buccaneers’ fans thought their 6-1 drubbing at the hands of SuperSport United earlier in the campaign was as low as they could possibly sink, but their same frailties in defence came back to haunt them again.

Themba Zwane and Percy Tau had Sundowns in a 2-0 halftime lead, before the wheels came off in the second period as Ricardo Nascimento (penalty), Thapelo Morena (two) and Tau netted.

The match was also notable for a pitch invasion from angry Pirates fans as they tried to cut the television feed, but the game was able to be completed.

Sundowns have continued to hand out some beatings since then, their last two home games against The Buccaneers have ended 4-1 in their favour, while they have scored 13 goals in their last four clashes, an average of more than three per match.