MTN8: A semi-final line-up to savour

One Soweto giant is taking on the most successful team of the PSL era, and the other Soweto giant is taking on of the most improved teams in the league.

When it comes to a South African semi-final schedule, you couldn’t ask for more than this year’s MTN 8 final four fixtures (available live on Showmax Pro, courtesy of SuperSport from Saturday, 2 September 2023).

Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Amid all their domestic success in recent years, this is the one tournament where Sundowns will be a little disappointed in their returns, with only two titles in the whole PSL era.

Masandawana got knocked out at this stage last season when they were beaten by Orlando Pirates and they will be keen to avoid an inauspicious Soweto “double” when they face Chiefs on Saturday.

They’ve had an imperious start to this campaign with five wins out of five, which is drawing some early comparisons with the famous “Gautrain” season of 2014/15 when Chiefs won their first eight matches (and also won the MTN8).

The Glamour Boys have had a mixed start in the DStv Premiership to go with their MTN 8 quarter-final win against Cape Town City. There have been signs of improvement under new coach Molefi Ntseki and a good showing against Sundowns could kickstart their whole season.

Recent head-to-head history certainly favours Sundowns who have won the last three meetings with only one goal conceded. You have to go back two years to the last time Chiefs beat the Tshwane outfit and you have to go back 15 years to the last time they beat them in the MTN8.

Neo Maema has been a recent nemesis for Chiefs fans with a goal in each of his last two meetings with the Amakhosi, including an injury-time winner when they met earlier this season.

Orlando Pirates vs Stellenbosch

Last year’s MTN8 win was a moment to savour for Orlando Pirates and they are relishing the opportunity to win it back to back and emulate their great 2010-11 era in doing so.

They certainly started this year’s competition with a bang when they delivered a 5-0 thrashing to Sekhukhune (who they beat in last year’s Nedbank Cup final for their second bit of silverware last season).

Zakhele Lepasa has been a standout star, with six goals in as many games including a hat-trick in the mauling of Sekhukhune.

They’ve started the season impressively, with only one loss in their first five games, and that defeat came against Sunday’s opponents Stellenbosch.

In the last few seasons, Stellenbosch’s rise has made them one of the most feared teams in the PSL. They’ve finished in the top six in the last two seasons and have a tendency to perform well in big games.

They have a chance of making it through to their first PSL cup final having narrowly missed out last season when they lost in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.

Out of all the top eight sides last season, Stellenbosch had the worst defensive record and they have struggled to contain the Buccaneers’ attack in the past. They will take heart from the fact that they kept a clean sheet last time out against them, though.

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