Pirates versus Sundowns MTN8 showdown: Who has the edge?

Pirates versus Sundowns MTN8 showdown: Who has the edge?

Pirates versus Sundowns MTN8 showdown: Who has the edge?

The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the MTN8 semifinal as Mamelodi Sundowns host Orlando Pirates at a sold-out Lucas Moripe Stadium in the return leg. Following a tense 1-1 draw in the first leg, both teams are now locked in a high-stakes battle for a spot in the final against either Sekhukhune United or Stellenbosch FC.

The main question on everyone’s mind is: who holds the advantage? Sundowns, having secured a crucial away goal at Orlando Stadium, enter the second leg with a slight edge. This means the defending champions Pirates must find the back of the net to keep their hopes alive. A goalless draw would see the Brazilians advance, while a 1-1 scoreline would force the match into extra time and penalties.

Both coaches, Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso and Pirates’ Abdeslam Ouaddou, acknowledge the intricate nature of the match.

“It is tricky for both teams, and you have to be smart about how you are going to approach the game,” said Ouaddou. “It is going to be interesting to see how the teams approach the match. I canโ€™t give you our plan, but what I can tell you is it is going to be interesting.”

His counterpart, Cardoso, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for mental fortitude. “I am expecting an intense match from beginning to the end, and managing the situation is going to be important. What is going to be key is to have your mind in the right place throughout the match.”

Cardoso also expressed disappointment with his team’s performance in the final 20 minutes of the first leg, a sign that he expects a more dominant display at home. He called on the Sundowns faithful to create an intimidating atmosphere and push the team forward.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou of Orlando Pirates
Abdeslam Ouaddou. Photo credit: ย Orlando Pirates

Squad Rotation and Tactical Preparation

Cardosoโ€™s recent team selection for a league match against Magesi FC showed his strategic focus on the MTN8 clash. He made several changes, giving rare starts to key players such as Bathusi Aubaas, Sphelele Mkhulise, and Peter Shalulile, suggesting he was preserving his main squad for the vital semifinal.

Meanwhile, Ouaddou confirmed that Pirates have left no stone unturned in their preparation, relying on a robust analytics department to gather intelligence on their opponents.

“We have seven people there working day and night and committed to the club,” Ouaddou said. “We always try to have information about our opponents to share with the players. As coaches, we are working on the strategy we are going to use.”

Despite recent league defeats that prompted calls for changes, Ouaddou reverted to a more experienced squad for the first leg against Sundowns. He defended his squad rotation policy, highlighting the necessity of a deep roster for a club competing on multiple fronts.

“We have a big squad and everyone is important,” he said. “Every player who gets a chance must give his best for the club. I am happy about the commitment. Whoever gets a chance to play must perform.”

Meanwhile,ย Pirates’ draw last Saturday extended their impressive unbeaten run against Sundowns in this competition to six matches, marking the third time since 2011 that their semifinal first leg has ended in a stalemate. The last time this happened, the Buccaneers went on to secure a dominant 3-0 away win in 2022 to book their spot in the final.

The Soweto giants have a strong cup record against Sundowns, having eliminated them only once in the last 15 years. During that period, Pirates have claimed five outright wins and also triumphed in the only penalty shootout between the two sides. With two of those victories coming away from home, they will be hoping for a similar result in Atteridgeville.

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Mamelodi Sundowns
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