Youngsters Relebohile Mofokeng and Jaedin Rhodes both found the back of the net as Wednesday evening’s MTN8 semi-final first leg between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates ended 1-1.
The two teams will get one more chance to book their spot in the final when they face-off in the second leg at Orlando Stadium this coming Saturday.
The encounter was originally meant t be played on Wednesday evening, but had to be postponed after the weather wreaked havoc across the Mother City.
☠️ 🤴![CDATA[]]>🏾 Man of the Match | Sipho Chaine
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) August 28, 2024
⚽️ FT | @CapeTownCityFC 1 - 1 @orlandopirates
🥅 Mofokeng 14’
⚫⚪🔴⭐#Matchday#MTN8WafaWafa#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/mwrtXuY4Rd
Despite the chilly winter weather, a good crowned crammed into the Cape Town Stadium to watch the match between the two evenly-matched sides.
The holders started the game well, and soon found themselves in front when teen sensation Mofokeng tucked the ball away to put the Sea Robbers in front.
The home side nearly pulled one back immediately, but a brilliant save by Sipho Chaine kept the MTN8 holders in front. And before the half time whistle, Chaine pulled off another top class save to keep the score 1-0.
After a number of attempts from both sides in the second half, City pulled a goal back after a wicked deflection meant that Chaine couldn’t keep out Rhodes’ powerful shot from inside the 18-yard area.
Neither side was able to get the much-needed winner on the night, and will go into the second leg in Johannesburg on Saturday all square.
Meanwhile in the other semi-final at a packed Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane, Stellenbosch FC showed they will be a team to be reckoned with this season with a 1-0 win against the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns.
After a goalless first half, Fawaaz Basadien put the visitors in front on the hour mark after Devin Titus was felled in the box by Grant Kekana.
Basedien made no mistake with his kick, sending Sundowns’ stand-in goalkeeper Jody February the wrong way to make it 1-0.
In search for an equaliser, Sundowns created a number of clear chances through new signing Arthur Sales and veteran Themba Zwane.
But, having the game of his life, Sage Stephens kept everything out to keep his side in front.
The two teams will have another go at each other when they face-off in the second leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday.
IOL Sport