Pirates brush aside City to secure final spot

Orlando Pirates secured a 2-0 victory over Cape Town City in an MTN8 semifinal second-leg match played at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Therefore, the defending champions eased into their third successive MTN8 final where they will take on either Mamelodi Sundowns or Stellenbosch FC after winning their tie against City 3-1 on aggregate. Pirates' next match is against Jwaneng Galaxy on 13 September in the Caf Champions League.

Orlando Pirates will defend their #MTN8 title on the 5th of October ✅

It's the end of the road for Cape Town City ❌ pic.twitter.com/QQKz27EprX

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 31, 2024

The Citizens, on the other hand, bowed out of the tournament having drawn 1-1 at home in the first-leg clash on Wednesday. City will now take on Royal AM on 14 September in their opening Betway Premiership match of the season.

Having scored in back-to-back matches, Relebohile Mofokeng looked lively in the opening stages and he was involved when the deadlock was broken in the 25th minute. Mofokeng's top-notch cross was headed home by Tshegofatso Mabasa to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead.

The Buccaneers pushed for another goal towards the interval and they got it through Deon Hotto who scored with a delightful free-kick in the 43rd minute to make it 2-0 to Pirates, who were leading 3-1 on aggregate during the halftime break.

Pirates continued to pile pressure on City's defence after the restart, with Mabasa forcing goalkeeper Darren Keet into a save in the 50th minute. Mofokeng then eliminated Keet before hitting the side-netting five minutes after the hour mark.

The Citizens created a few chances in the latter stages of the match, but Sipho Chaine was determined to keep a clean sheet on the day as the new Bafana Bafana international denied Heaven Sereetsi in the 80th minute and ultimately, Pirates won 2-0.

Pirates (2) 2 (Mabasa 25', Hotto 43')

City (0) 0

Pirates: Chaine, Sesane, Ndah, Monyane (Maela 62'), Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha (Timm 73') Maswanganyi, Saleng (Dlamini 88'), Mofokeng (Gilberto 73'), Mabasa (Makgopa 88').

City: Keet, Mkhize, Petrus, Domingo (Sokouna 46'), Nyama, Mokotjo (Gordinho 46'), Cupido, Gonzalez, Tjiueza (Goedeman 68'), Rhodes (Sereetsi 76'), Makaringe (Ahshene 69').