Sundowns Survive Arrows Scare to Set Up MTN8 Final Showdown With Pirates

DURBAN – Mamelodi Sundowns have earned a blockbuster MTN8 showdown with Orlando Pirates after surviving a dramatic second-leg fight against Lamontville Golden Arrows in Durban on Sunday.

The Brazilians edged Arrows 3-2 at King Zwelithini Stadium to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate and advance on the away-goals rule, overturning the 1-0 defeat they suffered in the first leg in Pretoria.

The Premier Soccer League is yet to confirm the venue for the 10 October final, but the matchup delivers the heavyweight contest the tournament’s sponsors and broadcasters would have wanted.

It will pit two of South Africa’s biggest clubs against each other, with Pirates chasing another piece of MTN8 history and Sundowns seeking to finish the job after a rollercoaster semi-final.

Sundowns dig deep in Durban

Sundowns arrived in Durban knowing they had to score and wasted little time taking the initiative.

Miguel Cardoso’s side attacked from the opening whistle, with Tashreeq Matthews and Fawaaz Basadien both testing Arrows goalkeeper Mbanjwa inside the first 15 minutes.

The pressure finally paid off in the 31st minute.

Cassius Mailula exchanged a slick one-two with Marcelo Allende in a crowded area before calmly finding the far corner. It was Mailula’s fourth goal in seven appearances since returning to Chloorkop and, more importantly, ended Arrows’ remarkable defensive run.

Abafana Bes’thende had gone more than 15 hours of football without conceding a goal, a streak that had included their first-leg victory over Sundowns as well as home-and-away wins against Kaizer Chiefs.

ALSO READ: Pirates reach fifth MTN 8 finals in a row

Sundowns thought they had doubled their advantage shortly after half-time when Khulumani Ndamane appeared to force the ball over the line with his chest.

Referee Luxolo Badi, however, ruled the goal out for handball and booked Ndamane for protesting. Television replays suggested the decision was debatable.

The officiating drama did not end there.

Minutes later, Badi initially showed Grant Kekana a second yellow card and sent the Sundowns defender off, only to realise his mistake and rescind the red card.

On the pitch, meanwhile, Arrows remained dangerous.

Their persistence was rewarded in the 69th minute when Junior Dion, one of the tournament’s standout attackers, converted a low cross to put Arrows back in front on the night and ahead on aggregate.

For a moment, the home side looked on course to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Sundowns responded almost immediately.

Nine minutes after Dion’s goal, Antonio Van Wyk drove into the penalty area and saw his cross take a fortunate deflection into the path of Allende. The Argentine midfielder kept his composure and finished through Mbanjwa’s legs to restore Sundowns’ advantage on the away-goals calculation.

With extra time approaching, Sundowns found the decisive moment.

Van Wyk cut inside from the left in the 86th minute before curling a shot beyond Mbanjwa to put the Brazilians 3-2 ahead on the night.

Philani Khumalo gave Arrows fresh hope with a stoppage-time goal, but it came too late to change the outcome.

Sundowns had done enough to secure their place in the final.

Pirates stand between Sundowns and the trophy

If Sundowns’ route to the final was dramatic, Orlando Pirates’ was considerably more emphatic.

The Buccaneers dismantled Sekhukhune United 4-0 on aggregate to reach the MTN8 final for a fifth consecutive year.

Now they have history within touching distance.

A victory over Sundowns would make Pirates the first club in MTN8 history to win the competition five times in succession, extending a remarkable run that began in 2022.

The Buccaneers have also not lost a semi-final tie since 2012 and have opened the new season unbeaten in seven matches. In five MTN8 matches this campaign, they have conceded only twice.

But Sundowns represent a different test.

The two clubs met in the 2023 MTN8 final, with Pirates emerging victorious on their way to a 12th title in the competition. Their latest meeting will carry the weight of that history, as well as the contrasting journeys both clubs have taken to reach this year’s decider.

Sundowns will also have defensive concerns to address before October.

ALSO READ: “It’s Tough Playing Golden Arrows,” says Cardoso Ahead of MTN8 Semifinal

Despite the return of Bafana Bafana international Khulumani Ndamane, who started alongside Grant Kekana for the first time this season on Sunday, Cardoso’s team have conceded regularly during their MTN8 campaign.

Pirates, meanwhile, will enter the final with confidence built on consistency, defensive discipline and a chance to extend one of the most extraordinary winning streaks in South African cup football.

Arrows bow out with heads held high

Golden Arrows may have fallen short, but their MTN8 campaign represents a significant achievement.

Under new coach Pitso Dladla, Arrows emerged as the surprise package of the tournament and came within a single goal of eliminating one of the country’s most dominant sides.

Taking Sundowns all the way to a 3-3 aggregate score before losing on away goals is a notable achievement for a club that has lifted the MTN8 only once, in 2009.

For Sundowns, the immediate task is to recover, regroup and sharpen their defence.

For Pirates, it is an opportunity to make history.

And for South African football, the stage is set for another heavyweight final between two clubs with plenty to prove when they meet on 10 October.

The Premier Soccer League is expected to confirm the final’s venue and kick-off time in the coming weeks.