Orlando Pirates booked their spot in a fourth consecutive MTN8 final with a 4-1 win on penalties after a 1-1 scoreline against Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of their semifinal encounter at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday.
The fixture ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 on aggregate across both legs.
Iqraam Rayners bagged his third goal of the competition, while Kamogelo Sebelebele is slowly establishing himself as an important piece of Pirates’ puzzle.
He replicated his first-leg equaliser, extending his scoring streak to three goals in his last three games for the Buccaneers.
The Bucs will now aim for their fourth consecutive MTN8 title.
𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐀 𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑 😤☠️
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 23, 2025
Orlando Pirates are on their way to defend their #MTN8 title 🏆#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/Qflwku4q1S
Pirates were first to threaten as Relebohile Mofokeng played a clever chip to Evidence Makgopa in the box, who scuffed his shot, failing to worry Ronwen Williams in goal.
The Buccaneers earned a freekick in goal-scoring range in the seventh minute, but Deon Hotto sent his strike straight into the wall.
It took Sundowns 16 minutes to take the lead, as Iqraam Rayners cut the ball back for Marcelo Allende but his shot was blocked by the sliding Lebone Seema.
The rebound landed kindly for Rayners, who slotted the ball past the scrambling Sipho Chaine to put the Brazilians in front.
Rayners gets the rebound and taps it in 😤⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 23, 2025
Masandawana have the upper-hand in this tie 👇
📺 Stream #MTN8 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/BmkZWVJcXT
Teboho Mokeona’s freekick from distance in the 20th minute had the height to get over the wall but did not dip in time, coming to rest on top of the netting.
Mofokeng showed great skill down the right hand side in the 36th minute, feeding Kamogelo Sebelebele, whose cross was dealt with by Divine Lunga in the middle of the box.
In the 43rd minute, Sebelebele got the better of Zuko Mdunyelwa in a scrappy duel and managed to fire off a cross which sailed narrowly over the head of Makgopa at the back post.
Mofokeng’s follow-up effort could not penetrate the wall of yellow defenders in the box.
The Brazilians nearly went two goals clear at the start of the second half as Arthur Sales fed Rayners in the box but from left inside the area, hit the right post.
In the 55th minute, Tashreeq Matthews's effort from the left of the box was denied by Chaine.
Masandawana nearly capitalised from the resulting corner, but Keanu Cupido’s stab at goal was denied by a diving Sihle Nduli.
The Buccaneers bounced back against the run of play in the 73rd minute, drawing level with a scrappy goal finished by Sebelebele for his second of the tie.
Mike Mamosha 🤩🎯
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 23, 2025
Sebelebele scores in three consecutive matches💥
📺 Stream #MTN8 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/71AiqjX9dq
Thapelo Maseko had a chance to snatch victory for Masandawana in the 80th minute, rising above the Pirates defence to meet Allende’s corner but his header was directed wide.
With the game going straight to penalties at the expiration of regulation time, Masandawana missed both of their first two penalties, taken by Mokoena and Allende, while Pirates remained perfect.
Tshegofatso Mabasa slotted the winner to give the Buccaneers a 4-1 victory in the shootout.
Pirates will face either Stellenbosch or Sekhukhune United in the final for the chance to add a 14th MTN8 trophy to their cabinet and keep their dominance in the competition alive.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Rayners 17’)
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Sebelebele 73’)
2-2 on aggregate; Pirates win 4-1 on penalties
Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, G. Kekana (M. Lebusa 80’), K. Cupido, Z. Mdunyelwa, T. Mokoena, M. Allende, D. Lunga, T. Matthews (T. Maseko 65’), J. Adams (A. Modiba 80’), A. Sales (L. Mothiba 80’), I. Rayners (P. Shalulile 86’)
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, L. Seema, M. Mbokazi, K. Sebelebele, D. Hotto, S. Nduli (M. Mariko 62’), T. Mbatha (S. Mbule 86’), P. Maswanganyi (B. Shandu 39’), R. Mofokeng, O. Appolis (S. Kwayiba 86’), E. Makgopa (T. Mabasa 62’)