Welcome to the IOL Sport live blog the MTN8 final showdown between defending champions Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night (kickoff 6pm).
After an elongated international break, the South African domestic football scene resumes with the country’s top two teams in the country competing for the first piece of silverware on offer.
Pirates a gunning for a record fifth-straight trophy, while Sundowns want to win a trophy that has eluded them for the last few years.
Follow the live action right here …
77’ SAVE!!
William is having a special night again, as he spectacularly denies Simphiwe Masilela with a diving save to his left
76’ CHANCE!
Leon misses a big chance after he his played through on goal by Matthews, but his shot is wide.
62’ PENALTY SAVE!
Ronwen Williams denies Divine Lungu from the spot as he pushes the ball onto the posts and then out.
46′ SUBSTITUTES
Oswin Appollis comes on for Kamogelo Sebelebele from Pirates while Divine Lunga replaces Aubrey Modiba for Sundowns
HALFTIME: SUNDOWNS 1-0 PIRATES
Mamelodi Sundowns took a 1–0 lead into the interval of the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, seizing early control as they set out to end Orlando Pirates’ four-year reign over the competition.
The Brazilians struck in the 12th minute when Tebogo Mokoena poked home from close range following a goalmouth scramble, capitalising on a clever backheel assist from Thabang Matuludi.
Sundowns kept the pressure on and created several chances to extend their advantage. Lebone Seema produced a vital last-ditch header to prevent Brayan León from converting an Aubrey Modiba cross, before Thapelo Morena dragged a one-on-one effort wide. Pirates keeper Sipho Chaine was called upon again in the 36th minute, pulling off a smart save to deny Nuno Santos from a set-piece scheme.
Pirates grew into the match during the final 15 minutes of the half, with Seema’s low cross flashing across goal just ahead of a sliding Nkosinathi Sibisi, before Ronwen Williams was forced into his first major action to deny Ghampani Lungu from a tight angle.
Tensions spilled over on the stroke of half-time when Yanela Mbuthuma and Khulumani Ndamane collided in a bloody clash of heads, requiring brief treatment on the sidelines and prompting referee Abongile Tom to speak to both benches before the whistle.
45′ ROUGH AND TUMBLE OF THE FINAL …
Yanela Mbuthuma and Khulumani Ndamane are both stretched off briefly after a clash of head sees both of them blood. Referee Abongile Tom speaks to both coaches to calm things down after the tensions rise.
40 ‘ TOP SAVE!!
This time it’s Ronwen Williams who is called into action, making his first big save by denying Ghampani Lungu from a tight angle.
36′ BIG SAVE!
Sipho Chaine AGAIN to the rescue for Pirates as he denies Nuno Santos this time after a cleverly worked free-kick
30’ CHANCE PIRATES!
Lebone Seema’s low cross misses a sliding Nkosinathi Sibisi inside the box as Pirates search for a way back into the contest.
25’ CHANCE SUNDOWNS!
Thapelo Morena with a BIG miss for the Brazilians with no one but the Pirates keeper to beat from close range.
23’ CHANCE SUNDOWNS!
Seema with a last ditch header to deny Bryan Leon getting on the end of a Aubrey Modiba cross.
Can Sundowns break Orlando Pirates’ winning streak? After Sundowns last won the competition in 2021, Pirates have won the competition over the last four years …
12′ GOAL SUNDOWNS!!!
Tebogo Mokoena puts Sundowns ahead as he pokes home from close range after a scramble in the box and beat backheel assist from Thabang Matuludi.
Conditions looking good and the fans … on time for a change
Durban turned on the sunshine for the MTN8 final.
The weather could hardly have been better for the 18:00 showdown at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with sunny skies providing the perfect backdrop for a final carrying significant weight for both sides.
Yet, before the football took centre stage, it was the supporters who offered a reminder of what makes these occasions special.
In a welcome surprise, fans appeared to respect the clock, arriving at the stadium in good time ahead of kick-off and allowing the build-up to unfold without the usual last-minute rush associated with major fixtures.
Even more encouraging was the camaraderie between the two sets of supporters.
Sundowns fans were eager to see their team add domestic silverware to their recent continental achievements. For them, the MTN8 represented an opportunity to put another trophy in the cabinet and underline the club’s ambitions on the local stage.
Pirates supporters, meanwhile, were confident their team’s hold on the competition would continue. Having won the previous four editions, the Buccaneers faithful arrived believing their side’s dominance of the MTN8 would survive another stern examination.
The teams for the final are out …
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Seema, Hotto, Sebelebele, Mbatha, Mokobodi, Selepe, Lungu, Moremi, Mbuthuma.
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Ndamane, Matuludi, Khoza, Morena, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Santos, Matthews, Leon.
Fans get ready for the massive clash …
While Kaizer Chiefs aren’t involved in the MTN8 final, there were quite a few of their supporters spotted at the Moses Mabhida Stadium …
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Build-up towards the big game
The healthy rivalry between Pirates and means coaches, Abdeslam Ouaddou and Miguel Cardoso must find working tactical solutions that will win their team the MTN8 showdown at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night (6pm).
Pirates and Sundowns have been the best teams in domestic football over the last decade. Not only have they won the most trophies between them, but they’ve also played with sheer dominance and class.
While they might have shared that success, Pirates have had the upper hand in domestic cup football, having won seven trophies in the last four seasons, after only dethroning Sundowns of the title last season following their eight-year streak of dominance.
With Pirates having also beaten Sundowns in two cup finals over the last five years – the MTN8 final in 2023 and the Nedbank Cup final in 2024 – the Brazilians will be eager to be third time lucky when the two sides meet in Durban.
However, such is Sundowns’ focus on regaining their dominance in domestic cup competitions, after recently conquering Africa and the Asian and Pacific region, that they are not dwelling on those past final defeats to Pirates.
“It’s not personal,” Sundowns defender Grant Kekana said. “We don’t like personalising games. I think it’s just more about us doing better than we did last season.
“We had a good start to the season, so we just want to keep the momentum. We are highly motivated and all positive. All the players have been getting a chance, so I don’t think we are far off from one another as teams.
“It’s just about us implementing what we know and have been working on so that we get a positive result this weekend.”
Indeed, the two teams know a lot about each other. Not only have both enjoyed an unbeaten start to reach the final, sit top of the Betway Premiership, and stand one tie away from the CAF Champions League group stage, but their players also share strong camaraderie in the national team, Bafana Bafana.
As such, while the battle on the pitch requires club allegiance and focus on the job at hand, they remain brothers after the final whistle. That’s why the coaches need to win the game tactically, rather than through mind games or physical battles.
“The brotherhood has helped us a lot in terms of understanding each other – even as rivals,” Kekana said. “Football has evolved. It used to be a physical battle, but now it’s about who gets it right tactically.
“So, it’s going to be another one of those. We just hope it’s going to be an enjoyable game for the neutrals and especially our supporters. We are going to leave everything on the field – even a piece of our skin.”
