MTN 8: Sundowns beat Richards Bay to complete semifinal line-up

South Africa football heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns proved too strong as they eased to a 4-0 victory over Richards Bay to complete the MTN8 semifinal line-up on Sunday. The semifinal draw took place after Sunday’s last match.

The Betway Premiership champions’ victory at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria saw them join cup holders Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the last four of South Africa’s 2025-2026 season opening competition.

Striker Iqraam Rayners scored the first goal with a header at the back-post where he met a bouncing corner-kick from the left in the ninth minute.

The Natal Rich Boys tried to respond but could not muster any meaningful effort on target. Eventually, Sundowns cushioned the lead on the stroke of half time when their counterattack ended with a ball being whipped across the goal mouth of the Durban-based opponents.

Richards Bay captain Simphiwe Mcineka, running while facing his own goalkeeper instead of doing so an at angle, ended up sweeping the ball into his own net to wind up the first half.

Sundowns needed eight minutes into the second half to make it 3-0 and it had to be Rayners who broke clear from a counterattack to sweep the ball past diving goalkeeper Salim Magoola. Eventually, substitute Siyabonga Mabena joined the scoring party with the fourth and final one of the match with 14 minutes remaining on the clock.

Miguel Cardoso’s side was without regulars, Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro and Khuliso Mudau, who are the subject of transfer speculation. The absence of the Bafana Bafana right-back Mudau handed Zuko Mdunyelwa an opportunity to start in defence which Grant Kekana led.

MTN 8 Semifinal Draw

The semi-final draw of the #MTN8 is complete 🔒 pic.twitter.com/VbH6OE2Cl0

— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) August 3, 2025