MTN8: Classic semifinal clashes

The semifinals of the 2022 MTN8 see a return to domestic action this weekend as Mamelodi Sundowns take on Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs tackle AmaZulu.

Both of those two-legged ties have the potential to be classics and add to some of the most memorable cup matches in South African football history.

The MTN8 has certainly played its part in that regard in the past, especially in the early seasons under its current guise when it seemed every year the semifinals produced a superb tussle.

Here are five classic semifinals from the past 14 years.

2008

SUPERSPORT UNITED 3-2 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Semifinals, second leg

SuperSport won the battle, but Sundowns won the war and made the final thanks to a 118th-minute goal from Lerato Chabangu.

The Brazilians had claimed the first leg 2-1 with Jorge Acuna and Surprise Moriri on target either side of a Brent Carelse goal for Matsatsantsa.

The first half was goalless before Daine Klate netted for SuperSport to make the aggregate score 2-2 and had the side going through on away goals.

But Moriri netted again five minutes from the end to swing the tie in Sundowns’ favour, only for Carelse to net for the hosts in injury-time in a dramatic finish that left the aggregate score at 3-3. On to extra time.

When Klate netted his second of the game, it was advantage SuperSport and it looked as though they would hold on until Chabangu popped up two minutes from the end to make the aggregate score 4-4 and put Sundowns through by virtue of their two away goals.

They went on to lose the final on penalties to Kaizer Chiefs following a 0-0 draw.

2009

KAIZER CHIEFS 3-3 AJAX CAPE TOWN

Semifinals, second leg

Still one of the great cup ties in any competition, this one had a fast start and then a dramatic finish.

Ajax led 1-0 from the home leg as Dipsy Selolwane scored a penalty in Cape Town, but there were three goals in the opening 16 minutes in the return.

The unlikely figure of Brett Evans put Ajax in front, a vital away goal, but the tables turned on the day as Jose Torrealba and Josta Dladla netted to give Chiefs the lead.

Evans netted another from the penalty spot to leave Chiefs chasing the game, but they gave themselves a chance when Siphiwe Tshabalala netted with five minutes remaining.

Ajax were still going through on the away goals rule at this point, leaving Chiefs in a scramble for a fourth, but their hopes were dashed in spectacular style.

Franklin Cale picked up the ball 35-yards from goal and scored a stunning equaliser on the day as Ajax advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

Crippling injury problems, which saw Cale playing as a fullback, saw the Urban Warriors lose the final 6-0 to Lamontville Golden Arrows, still the biggest cup final loss in South African football history.

2010

MOROKA SWALLOWS 3-2 AJAX CAPE TOWN

Semifinals, second leg

S’celo Zuma scored a dramatic late winner for Swallows in this tie to see them into the final after a see-saw battle that was nothing like the first leg.

The match in Cape Town finished in a rather dour 0-0 draw, but this five-goal thriller was anything but dull.

Swallows led early on when Siyabonga Nomvethe put them in front after only five minutes, and when he added a second early in the second half, it looked as though The Birds were cruising.

But the unlikely figure of Clayton Daniels swung the tie in the favour of Ajax when he scored a brace of goals, his second coming 10 minutes from fulltime.

With the aggregate score at 2-2, all Ajax had to do was hold on for an away goals win to reach a second successive final, but Zuma popped up to score the winner for the hosts with two minutes remaining.

It put Swallows into the final, which they would narrowly lose on penalties to Orlando Pirates following a 1-1 draw.

2011

ORLANDO PIRATES 3-2 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Semifinals, first leg

This was a forerunner to this year’s semifinals and we hope to be served up another classic like this fixture 11 years ago, another tie with a fast start and a thrilling finish.

Thulasizwe Mbuyane had Pirates ahead after only six minutes, but Sundowns were ahead before the midway point of the first half as Katlego Mphela and Musa Nyatama scored for the visitors.

That was the way it stayed until 10 minutes from time, when Tlou Segolela pulled The Buccaneers level on the day at 2-2.

There was still time for more late drama though as Bongani Ndulula scored an injury-time penalty to hand Pirates a 3-2 success.

The second leg saw Sundowns take charge of the tie when Elias Pelembe netted to put them in front on the away goals rule, but when Oupa Manyisa equalised for Pirates, it was they who advanced to the final.

There they met old foes Kaizer Chiefs and it took an injury-time winner from Manyisa to secure back-to-back title triumphs.

2012

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 3-3 MOROKA SWALLOWS

Semifinals, first leg

Both legs in this tie were classics as Swallows eventually triumphed 6-5, but the first match, in particular, will live long in the memory.

Sundowns were the favourites going into the game but found themselves 2-0 down inside eight minutes as Felix Obada and Ashraf Hendricks netted for Swallows.

A Teko Modise penalty pulled one back for Sundowns, before Hlompho Kekana equalised just past the hour-mark to make the score 2-2.

To their credit, Swallows kept pouring forward and they were rewarded when Bennett Chenene scored 16 minutes from the end.

But that was not the end of it as Edward Manqele, a new signing from Free State Stars, scored what would prove to be a rare goal in a Sundowns shirt to make it 3-3.

The second leg was equally absorbing as Swallows raced into a 3-0 lead inside 19 minutes after former Sundowns man Chabangu (two) and Chenene scored, but goals from Modise and Nyasha Mushekwi gave Sundowns a chance, though the latter scored very late on.

Swallows beat another Tshwane side, SuperSport United, 2-1 in the final.