Winners And Losers: MNT8 Semi-finals

Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates have advanced to the 2024 MTN8 finals, after winning their respective semi-finals over the weekend. On Saturday, Orlando Pirates cruised to a 2-0 win over Cape Town City, ensuring a comfortable 3-1 victory on aggregate. On Sunday, Stellenbosch repeated their 1-0 first-leg result, knocking out last year’s finalists Sundowns. The winners will meet in October at a venue that has yet to be confirmed. Winners & Losers is a statistical review of the weekend action. 

Winners

Orlando Pirates’ Love Affair With The Top8

The first PSL-era team to win the Top8 (1972). The first NSL-era team to win back-to-back Top8 titles (1972-1973). The first PSL-era team to win the Top8 (2000). The first PSL-era team to win back-to-back Top8 titles (2010-2011), and the first to do so twice (also 2022-2023). And now are on the verge of becoming the first team to win the title three times in a row.

3 – Pirates are only the third side (2nd club) to reach three consecutive Top 8 finals, after SuperSport United who did so between 2004-2006 and 2017-2019

Pirates Improving In The Second Leg

The most notable aspect of the home side’s performance was that they did not rely on a handful of players to carry the attacking burden. Only Mofokeng, Mabasa & Hotto touched the ball in the opposition box more than once in the first leg, compared to six different players in the second. The reward for an improved performance is another date with destiny.

10 – No PSL team has reached the Top 8 final more times than Pirates in the PSL era (10).

Jose Riveiro

“I’m simply doing my job,” 

Orlando Pirates coach José Riveiro was quick to dismiss the notion that he’s a cup specialist after his team qualified for yet another MTN8 final. It is more of a compliment.

5 – Jose Riveiro has reached his fifth Cup final at Orlando Pirates (three Top 8s, two Nedbank Cups), more than any other Pirates coach in the PSL era. 

Stellenbosch

Stellies did not only reach a first-ever Top8 final, but they did it in such a way that they are left with a great deal more pride in addition. While they were by reserved in their approach (25% possession), they at least showed attacking intent. Five shots on target against this Sundowns used to be just a dream. On Sunday, Stellies made that look normal. Now, history beckons for the men from the Winelands.

1 – Stellenbosch have reached their first-ever MTN8 final, becoming the 16th different PSL club to reach the final of the Top8.

Steve Barker

That’s five consecutive wins for the first time since Stellenbosch became a top-flight side. And part of that run involves becoming only the second team in PSL history to beat Sundowns home & away in a two-legged domestic Cup tie after Moroka Swallows in the 2000 Rothmans Cup Round of 16. The double victory makes him a standalone.

4 – Since their promotion to the top flight in 2019, no coach has won more games against Sundowns in all competitions than Steve Barker.

Sage Stephens

Those saves. Man of the Match in the first leg, and we didn’t give him his flowers. Late on Sunday, Downs seemed to be piling on some overdue pressure. It’s easy to forget that Stellies ended last season with three consecutive defeats. But they’ve started the new one with some resolute defending, led by Stephens from the back.

4 – Stellies have kept four consecutive clean sheets for the first time this year.

Losers

Sundowns

“I am confident, we will play very well in Durban and we will go through..” 

Mngqithi said after the first-leg defeat.

They did not go through. Neither did they play well enough (except for a late flurry). They were the only team not to score a goal in the semis, and one of the three teams that failed to score from their own players. They have now lost back-to-back games for the second time in the last 100 days. Before May, they had lost back-to-back games twice only over 6 years & 4 months (Jan 2018-May 2024). It’s unfair to classify Manqoba Mngqithi’s start at the helm as a disaster. Downs have been stuck since May.

1 – Sundowns have won just once in their last six games (to an own goal in extra-time), drawing one and losing the other four games.

Cape Town City

This has been a lopsided fixture for a long time. The away team in the Cape Town city and Orlando Pirates fixture has won just once in 20 games (9 draws, 10 home wins in all competitions). But Tinkler’s record against Pirates must give him sleepless nights:

1 – Eric Tinkler has won just one of the 15 games he has coached vs Orlando Pirates in his career (P15 W1 D7 L7).