Pirates v City: Battle lines drawn for a MTN8 final spot

Defending champions Orlando Pirates will go head to head with Cape Town City in Saturday's MTN8 semifinal match second-leg match at the Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm CAT live on SuperSport.

CURRENT FORM

This tie is delicately poised after the first-leg encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at the DHL Stadium on Wednesday as Jaedin Rhodes' deflected strike canceled out Relebohile Mofokeng's opening goal.

Pirates will now play host to City at Orlando Stadium where they are undefeated in cup competitions under their current coach Jose Riveiro having won three out of three matches and they also have the edge in this MTN8 tie thanks to an away goal.

City, on the other hand, are no pushovers as they showed character in the first-leg encounter and the Citizens' coach Eric Tinkler has what it takes to mastermind a victory over his former employers in Soweto.

The winner of the tie between Pirates and City on aggregate or penalties will lock horns with either Mamelodi Sundowns or Stellenbosch FC in this season's MTN8 final.

TEAM NEWS

Both teams have no suspension concerns coming into this eagerly-anticipated match, but there are players who will be missing due to their respective injuries.

Pirates quintet Tapelo Xoki, Bandile Shandu, Zakhele Lepasa, Paseka Mako and Thabiso Lebitso are currently busy with their injury rehabilitation.

City, meanwhile, will be without the services of Carlinhos and Lorenzo Gordinho who are both injured, while new signing Amadou Soukouna is waiting for his work permit.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

“You can imagine how important it is [to get the away goal]. 1-1 is much better than 0-0, so I am happy with the goal but not happy that we conceded. We want to win every game and Saturday is not going to be an exception,'' Riveiro said

“Trust me, we are not going to think that a 0-0 draw is going to be all right [even though it'd be enough for them to go to the final and have a chance to defend their title]. We are going to try to play to win the game as we always do. It will be important that we create chances one more time.''

Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler

"I saw more positives than negatives, and we'll take those positives and show them (to the players). Obviously going to the second leg we have to play with the same energy and the same intensity," Tinkler said.

"But with a more positive mentality, knowing that we need to get the away goal. But I think we created enough chances to tell ourselves that we've got a great chance going there."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando Pirates: The 19-year-old attacker is playing some of his best football at the moment having netted in back-to-back matches against Disciples and Cape Town City. The teenager could be the player to fire the Buccaneers into the final.

Jaedin Rhodes, Cape Town City: The 21-year-old attacker has Big Match Temperament having found the back of the net against Mamelodi Sundowns in May and Pirates on Wednesday. City will look to the youngster to inspire the team to the final.

Head-to-Head (since 2016/17)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2017/18 Nedbank Cup, last 16 City 1-0 Pirates Patosi

2020/21 MTN8, quarterfinal Pirates 1-0 City Dzvukamanja

2024/25 MTN8, semifinal, first leg City 1-1 Pirates Rhodes; Mofokeng

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 3 1 1 1 2 2

City 3 1 1 1 2 2

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Pirates 3-3 City Jele, Mabaso, Ndengane; Nodada, Erasmus, Roberts

2019/20 City 1-0 Pirates Erasmus

2020/21 City 2-2 Pirates Mdantsane, Mobara; Pule 2

2020/21 Pirates 2-0 City Hotto, Pule

2021/22 City 1-1 Pirates Mdantsane (pen); Jele

2021/22 Pirates 0-0 City

2022/23 City 2-1 Pirates Zapata, Gonzalez; Hotto

2022/23 Pirates 2-1 City Dzvukamanja, Saleng; Mayo

2023/24 Pirates 2-0 City Lepasa, Maswanganyi

2023/24 City 0-2 Pirates Mabasa 2

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 19 6 9 4 24 19

City 19 4 9 6 19 24