The first encounter ends in a tense 1-1 draw over the weekend. Sundowns strike first through Teboho Mokoena’s opener in the first half, but the Buccaneers refuse to go down. Kamogelo Sebelele steps up late in the second half, slotting in the equaliser that keeps Pirates in the running for yet another title defence.
Since the arrival of new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, Pirates continue to search for consistency, with wins proving hard to come by. That makes Saturday’s clash even more crucial, as the defending champions chase a fourth consecutive MTN 8 crown.
Sundowns, however, are equally determined. Hungry to break Pirates’ streak, they head into the second leg with their sights firmly set on snatching the throne and cementing themselves as the new kings of the competition.