Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United face of in the MTN8 quarterfinals at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
This will be their tenth meeting in the MTN8 competition since 2001.
Orlando Pirates have had the better of SuperSport United in the MTN8, winning three of the teams previous nine clashes outright, SuperSport have two outright wins.
While Pirates have one win on penalties, SuperSport have won two games on spot kicks while one more game has ended in a draw.
The sides' only outright draw in an MTN8 game was their 0-0 stalemate in the first leg of the 2012-13 semifinal with SuperSport as hosts.
SuperSport won the second leg away from home 3-0.
Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United will participate in the 17th edition of the tournament to be played under the name of the MTN8, the tournament under its current guise began in 2008-09.
The two Gauteng-based sides will meet in the MTN8 for the first time since the 2018-2019 campaign.
Since then, Orlando Pirates have gone on to clinch the coveted trophy three times (2020-21, 2022-23 and 2023-24) while SuperSport United have won it once (2019-2020).
Pirates, SuperSport, Cape Town City and Sundowns know what it's like to win the #MTN8
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 2, 2024
Here are the records of ALL the quarterfinalists in this competition. pic.twitter.com/3Yb4xXMcWK
Three MTN8 ties between the sides have gone to spot-kicks and on two occasions SuperSport have come out on top.
SuperSport have won two of the previous three games in the MTN8 between the teams that have gone to penalties in 2018 after a 2-2 draw in a quarterfinal game, SuperSport won 6-5 on penalties AET.
In 2006 a quarterfinal clash ended 1-1 before SuperSport prevailed AET on penalties 6-5.
Pirates won a shootout 4-3 AET following a 2-2 draw in a 2013 quarterfinal encounter.
This is the 10th MTN8 tie between the teams in the MTN8 and the 7th time they meet in the last eight, having clashed at this stage in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2018.
They have met twice in the semifinals over two legs in 2012 and before that in 2007.
Both teams have won three each of their MTN8 quarterfinal clashes.
Over their previous six clashes in MTN8 quarterfinals Pirates won 4-3 in 2001, on penalties in 2013 and 2-1 in 2014.
SuperSport, meanwhile have won three of their last eight clashes on penalties in 2006 and 2018 and 2-1 in 2008.
Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United will meet for the 90th time in all competitions since 1990.
They have met on 79 occasions in the PSL era.
In all competitions they have previously met on 89 occasions with Orlando Pirates winning 37 of those games, SuperSport United have won 28 and there have been 24 draws.
Orlando Pirates have scored 114 goals during this time while SuperSport United have 98 goals.
Orlando Pirates' biggest win in this fixture is a 6-2 victory they managed in the 2000/01 season at home in a league game, while SuperSport United’s biggest win was a 6-1 victory in the 2016-17 campaign a league game at home a game, they at one stage trailed 1-0.
GOAL SCORERS
In the MTN8 there have been 24 goal scorers in this fixture with Benedict Vilakazi being the most prolific having scored three goals in this fixture.
Pirates' 14 goals in the MTN8 against SuperSport have been scored by 11 different players with only Benedict Vilakazi (3) and Lennox Bacela (2), scoring more.
SuperSport United’s 15 goals in the MTN8 against Pirates have been scored by 13 different players, they have been the recipients of an own goal.
SuperSport’s only multiple goal-scorer in this fixture is Raymond Seopa who scored a brace in a 4-3 quarterfinal loss for SuperSport in 2001.
Bradley Grobler is the highest scorer in this fixture overall having netted nine goals against Pirates, last season he netted in a 3-1 home league win over Pirates.
Grobler’s first goal against Pirates came over a decade ago in a 1-0 home league win for SuperSport on the 5th April 2014.
Grobler is yet to score against Pirates in the MTN8, he has scored against them back-to-back Nedbank Cup Finals scoring in a 3-1 win in the 2016 final, he netted a brace in the 2017 final a 4-1 win for SuperSport.
Since Jose Riveiro’s appointment as Pirates coach at the start of the 2022-23 season they are yet to lose to SuperSport at home, winning a league game 1-0 win 2022-23 while drawing 1-1 at home last season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (MTN8)
P W D L GF GA GD
Orlando Pirates 9 3 4 2 14 15 -1
SuperSport United 9 2 4 3 15 14 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD (All competitions - PSL Era)
P W D L GF GA GD
Orlando Pirates 79 31 22 26 97 92 5
SuperSport United 79 26 22 31 92 97 -5
ORLANDO PIRATES
Pirates are the two times defending champions and the second most successful side with 12 title triumphs from 18 finals.
Orlando Pirates were the winners of the inaugural top eight tournament in 1972 defeating arch- rivals Kaizer Chiefs over two legs to lift the trophy.
The first-ever match was a semifinal tie that saw Orlando Pirates come from 3-1 down at half-time to Moroka Swallows, including two goals from their former star Percy Moloi who had moved to the Birds, to win 4-3 at the Orlando Stadium. Blessing Mgidi got a hat-trick for the victors.
Only Kaizer Chiefs (15) have won more MTN8 titles than Pirates (12).
Orlando Pirates have won three of the last five MTN8 competitions, doing so in 2020-21, 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Pirates have reached nine finals since the MTN8 competition was restored to the PSL calendar in the 2000/01 season, more than any club.
Pirates ended in second position last season and in doing so have also qualified for the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Pirates have finished in second position for two successive seasons.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are the only teams to retain the top eight trophy.
Chiefs managed it in 1981-1982 and 1991-1992. Pirates managed it in 2010-2011 and 2023-2024.
Pirates also won the trophy in 1996 and when it was held again in 2000.
Pirates are aiming to reach three finals in a row for the first time since doing so in 1978, 1979 and 1980. They won in 1978 and were runners up in 1979 and 1980.
Orlando Pirates are competing in the MTN8 in the PSL era for a 24th time.
Pirates are aiming since 2000-01 to reach the last four for a 14th time, their quarterfinal record including wins and losses on penalties reads W13 L10.
Pirates suffered four successive quarterfinal exits going out in the last eight stages in 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Pirates have only lost two of their last 13 MTN8 fixtures, including a loss to Stellenbosch in the second leg of the semifinal last season.
They advanced on away goals despite a 1-0 home defeat, their other loss was a 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to Moroka Swallows in the 2020-21 Quarterfinals.
Orlando Pirates claimed back-to-back MTN8 titles in 2022 and 2023, they are seeking to become the first club to win the competition three seasons in a row.
Ahead of the new season Orlando Pirates have secured the services of Gilberto from Petro Atletico, Thuso Moleleki from Motsepe Foundation outfit Orbit College and Selaelo Rasebotja from SuperSport United.
In the PSL Era Pirates have failed to appear in the MTN8 just once in 2017-18 after ending in 11th position in 2016-17.
With Jose Riveiro at their helm Orlando Pirates have won both their previous MTN8 quarterfinal games last season when defending their title, they began with a 5-0 win over Sekhukhune United and the season before they defeated Royal AM 2-1.
Pirates begin their MTN8 campaign at home for a second season in a row.
Pirates are winless in open play in their last two games in the MTN8, losing their semifinal second leg against Stellenbosch last season 1-0 before winning the final on penalties in 2023-24 against Sundowns after the game ended 0-0.
Pirates with Jose Riveiro as their coach have reached four of a possible five domestic cup semifinals doing so in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 MTN8 and Nedbank Cup tournaments reaching the final and winning all of these.
Pirates’ earliest elimination with Riveiro at their helm in a domestic cup competition was in the 2023-24 league cup they exited in the quarterfinal losing to Richards Bay on penalties in the last eight.
In the MTN8 with Jose Riveiro at the helm Pirates have won five games in open play and one on penalties, they have drawn one match against Sundowns in the first leg of their 2022-23 semifinal and lost one game against Stellenbosch.
Pirates in their eight MTN8 games with Riveiro at the helm have kept five clean sheets, they have conceded three goals in a 2-1 win against Royal AM in the 2022-23 quarterfinals and a goal in each leg of last season's semifinals against Stellenbosch.
When winning the MTN8 in 2022-23 Pirates kept three clean-sheets and conceded just one goal while scoring six, last season they conceded two and scored seven.
JOSE RIVEIRO MTN8 RECORD AS PIRATES COACH
P W D L GF GA GD
8 5 2 1 13 3 10
MTN8 COMPETITION RECORD IN PSL ERA
2023/24: Winners
2022/23: Winners
2021/22: Quarterfinals
2020/21: Winners
2019/20: Quarterfinals
2018/19: Quarterfinals
2016/17: Quarterfinals
2015/16: Quarterfinals
2014/15: Runners Up
2013/14: Runners Up
2012/13: Semifinals
2011/12: Winners
2010/11: Winners
2009/10: Quarterfinals
2008/09: Quarterfinals
2007/08: Runners Up
2006/07: Quarterfinals
2005/06: Semifinals
2004/05: Quarterfinals
2003/04: Quarterfinals
2002/03: Semifinals
2001/02: Semifinals
2000/01: Winners
SUPERSPORT UNITED
SuperSport have won the MTN8 on three occasions and have also appeared in seven finals.
That includes a run of three in a row between 2017 and 2019, where they won the first and third of those, but lost to Cape Town City on penalties in 2018.
This will be the 17th edition of the MTN8 tournament after sponsors MTN took over in 2008.
Since then, SuperSport United have taken part in all previous 16 editions.
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt’s only ever triumph in the MTN8 came in the 2016 final when his BidVest Wits side won 3-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
He has taken charge of 43 games in the MTN8 and won 16.
The last coach to win the MTN8 competition with SuperSport United was Kaitano Tembo in 2019 after Matsatsansa beat Highlands Park 1-0 through a Bradley Grobler goal in the 45th minute.
Their 2019 MTN8 victory was the last time SuperSport United won silverware.
The other two coaches who have won the MTN8 with SuperSport United are Eric Tinkler in 2017 and Pitso Mosimane in 2004.
SuperSport United have not advanced past the quarterfinals of the MTN8 since 2020, they have been eliminated at this stage in the past three seasons in 2021-22 they lost to Golden Arrows on penalties.
In 2022-23 they lost 2-0 away to Sundowns and last season they lost 1-0 at home to Stellenbosch.
Before SuperSport United won the competition in 2017 they had gone four seasons without advancing beyond the quarterfinals.
SuperSport United are aiming since 2001-02 to reach the last four for a 12th time, their quarterfinal record including wins and losses on penalties reads W12 L11.
SuperSport lost in four successive quarterfinals in 2016/17, 2015/16, 2014/15 and 2013/14.
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, SuperSport United have signed Vincent Pule from Orlando Pirates, Pogiso Sanoka from TS Galaxy, Nyiko Mobbie from Mamelodi Sundowns and renewed their loan agreement with Sundowns for Ricardo Goss.
The teams have been busy in the transfer window 📝
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 2, 2024
Here are the new faces that we could potentially see in the #MTN8 this weekend.
Vincent Pule boasts two goals from 11 starts in the MTN8. He has not won the MTN8 with either Orlando Pirates or Bidvest Wits.
SUPERSPORT MTN8 COMPETITION RECORD IN PSL ERA
2022/23: Quarterfinals
2021/22: Quarterfinals
2020/21: Semifinals
2019/20: Winners
2018/19: Final
2017/18: Winners
2016/17: Quarterfinals
2015/16: Quarterfinals
2014/15: Quarterfinals
2013/14: Quarterfinals
2012/13: Final
2011/12: Quarterfinals
2010/11: Quarterfinals
2009/10: Quarterfinals
2008/09: Semifinals
2007/08: Semifinals
2006/07: Final
2005/06: Final
2004/05: Winners
2003/04: Quarterfinals
2002/03: Semifinals
2001/02: Quarterfinals
☠️NEXT MATCH ☠️
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) August 1, 2024
🏆#MTN8 Quarter- Final
🆚 @SuperSportFC
📅 03 August 2024
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⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OnceAlways #OrlandoPirates pic.twitter.com/uUgFTfYenF