Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns contest the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday as the first piece of silverware in the 2023/24 season is up for grabs.
They are two giants of the local game with a stories history in this competition, though it is fair to say Pirates have enjoyed more success down the years.
Here are eight facts about the 2023 MTN8 final.
A RARE OCCASION
Quite remarkable for two giants of the local game, this will be only the second time ever these two sides meet in the final of the MTN8 competition since it was first played in 1972. The only other clash in the decider came in 2007 when a Brent Carelse goal handed Sundowns a 1-0 win at Loftus Versfeld.
ADVANTAGE PIRATES?
The teams have met in 13 matches in the competition overall, 10 at the semifinal stage to go with two quarterfinals and one final. Their first was, for a time, Sundowns’ record win against Pirates as they romped to a 6-1 success in 1990. That was eclipsed by a 6-0 league win in 2016, still Pirates’ heaviest ever defeat. The record in those 13 games is, however, even. Both clubs have won four games to go with five draws. Their most recent meeting in the MTN8 came at the semifinal stage last season as they drew the first leg 0-0, before Pirates romped to a 3-0 success in the second and went on to lift the trophy, beating AmaZulu 1-0 in the final. If you look purely at ties between these two, there have been nine (taking into account two legs and replays). Pirates have won five of those to Sundowns’ four.
SUNDOWNS HAVE RECENT SUCCESS VERSUS PIRATES
These two teams have already met in the DStv Premiership this season. Sundowns claimed a 1-0 away win on September 20 as Lucas Ribeiro slotted a penalty after 12 minutes. Sundowns have in fact won the last three competitive meetings, scoring four goals and conceding none. The last time Pirates netted against The Brazilians was in the MTN8 semis in 2022 when Monnapule Saleng scored a late third in a 3-0 win.
HIT AND MISS FOR PIRATES
It has been feast or famine for Pirates in the MTN8 in the last 10 appearances in the competition, including this year. They have gone out in the quarterfinals in five of those and reached the final in the other five! They have claimed title victories in two of the last three years, and lost the 2013 and 2014 finals. Can they add another title? Pirates have now reached seven finals since 2008, comfortably more than any other side. The next highest are Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United, all with four. Pirates have won four of those previous six, which is also a record since 2008. In all they have 11 title wins from 17 finals.
CAN SALENG DO IT AGAIN?
Pirates winger Monnapule Saleng had a superb 2022 MTN8 and was named the Last Man Standing at the 2022/23 end of season PSL awards. He scored three goals, including the winner in the final and was instrumental in The Buccaneers’ success. He also scored in the 5-0 quarterfinal win over Sekhukhune United this season, so has four goals in six starts and one sub appearance (for Moroka Swallows in 2021) in the MTN8 competition. He also scored the winner in last year’s final against AmaZulu and is a man for the big occasion.
MIXED BAG FOR SUNDOWNS IN FINALS
Sundowns have been to the MTN8 final three times since 2008, winning only one of those. They lost to Kaizer Chiefs on penalties 15 years ago, before a 3-0 loss to BidVest Wits in 2006. They then beat Cape Town City in a penalty shoot-out to lift the trophy in 2021 after the teams had finished at 1-1. Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango remarkably saved five Cape Town City penalties in the shoot-out that followed. In all, Sundowns have been to 10 finals in the competition and won four. Their victories have come against Arcadia Shepherds (1988), Wits University (1990), Pirates (2007) and Cape Town City (2021). But they have also had defeats to Chiefs (1992, 1994, 2001, 2008), Santos (2002) and Wits (2016).
SUNDOWNS ON A GOOD RUN
Sundowns have in fact only lost one of their last 10 ties in the MTN8 competition, which was their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Pirates in the second leg of their 2022 semifinal. They have otherwise been hard to beat, recording wins over Golden Arrows, SuperSport United, Moroka Swallows and Chiefs, to go with draws against Chiefs (twice), Cape Town City, Golden Arrows and Pirates.
RECORD WITH PENALTIES IN THE MTN8
Should the final go to penalties, which is a distinct possibility, Sundowns will not look back with mixed joy at their previous instances, with a notable exception. Since Sundowns lost to Chiefs via spot-kicks in the 2008 final, they have been involved in five more shootouts and won only two. That includes losing to Ajax Cape Town (2010), Bloemfontein Celtic (2015) and Cape Town City (2018). Since then they have beaten Chiefs and Cape Town City (both 2021) in that epic decider where Onyango was the hero. Pirates beat Moroka Swallows in the 2010 decider on spot-kicks, and SuperSport United in 2013, but lost to Platinum Stars in the final that same year and to SuperSport in 2018. That is the last time they were involved in spot-kicks in the MTN8, but their recent loss to Jwaneng Galaxy via a shoot-out to be ousted from the CAF Champions League will weight heavy on them.