The 1st leg semi-finals of the MTN 8 were played this weekend in which both matches ended in draws. Mamelodi Sundowns took on Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium, while Kaizer Chiefs hosted AmaZulu at the FNB Stadium.
On Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns travelled to Orlando Stadium to take part of the 1st leg of the semi-finals of the competition they’re looking to defend. Orlando Pirates felt very confident prior to the match and rightly so, considering the kind of football they have been playing lately, feeling like they can match up to the way Sundowns play. They were the more threatening side out of the two with their overloaded creativity in the midfield, able to create plenty chances in the game even though they had lesser possession in the game.
The Buccaneers were able to register 11 shots throughout the game with only 3 of those being on target, compared to Sundowns’ 9 shots and none of them even recorded to be on target. That was unlike the Tshwane club to not register even a single shot on target when they featured the likes of Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile leading the forward lines. It wasn’t a usual dominating display from Sundowns and with that performance the Pirates base can remain hopeful going into the 2nd leg. It was a game of not much actions but a very tense tactical battle with Monnapule Saleng capturing many supporters’ hearts with his brilliant performance.
Kaizer Chiefs toom on AmaZulu in game that overshadowed by the controversial performance of referee Victor Gomes. AmaZulu took the lead in under 20 minutes through former Orlando Pirates forward, Gabadinho Mhango, and Kaizer Chiefs took that as a wake up call and were searching frantically for the equaliser to keep them in the tie. Keegan Dolly equalised for the Naturena side on 61 minutes after Veluyeke Zulu had received a second yellow and took an early bath on 54 minutes.
The red card showing didn’t end there in this clash though as Gomes was still to brandish2 further red cards in the 89th minuteto Gabadinho Mhangi who had already been substituted off, and then in the 10th additional minute after the 90 a red card was shown to Chiefs’ Lehlogonolo Matlou. AmaZulu’s starting line up will be somewhat depleted going into the 2nd leg at the Moses Mabhida stadium on the weekend of the 23rd, however they’ll still be hoping for a result then.
Now the question remains on whether Victor Gomes’ performance and exiling players was justified??
