Mamelodi Sundowns secured a vital away goal after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Tshwane rivals SuperSport United in their MTN8 semi-final first-leg on Sunday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Matsatsantsa advanced to this stage of the competition after securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bidvest Wits in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the Brazilians progressed to the last four after they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in their previous encounter in the competition.
The last time the two sides met this campaign with Sundowns coming out on top after claiming a 2-0 victory over SuperSport through goals from Themba Zwane and Sibusiso Vilakazi.
The visitors came out with intent early in the first half while the home side were still trying to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges of the match.
Sundowns produced the first chance of the game after nine minutes when Gaston Sirino was denied by Ronwen Williams before the United goalkeeper denied Sibusiso Vilakazi’s header moments later.
United grew into the game and eventually broke the deadlock four minute before the break when Thamsanqa Gabuza directed his diving header into the back of the net after latching on to a cross from Onismor Bhasera.
However, Sundowns wasted no time to draw the game level immediately after the restart when Sirino fires his venomous strike into the roof of the net to make it 1-1.
The game went into the half time interval with the scoreline locked at 1-1.
Denis Onyango came to his sides rescue early in the second half when he made a great reflex save to prevent Wayne Arendse from scoring an own goal.
Mosa Lebusa should have handed his side the lead in the 54th minute but his well-timed volley was cleared off the line by SuperSport.
Vilakazi has a chance of his own two minutes later when he lost his man in the box to get a shot away but his effort sailed over the bar.
Sundowns continued to press forward in search of a goal as Sirino cut through the SuperSport defense to pick out Themba Zwane, who was left unmarked in the area, but the attacker was unable to guide his header towards goal.
SuperSport made their first change of the game in the 71st minute when Jamie Webber came on to replace Tebogo Mokoena.
Williams came to his sides rescue five minutes later when he made a good save to deny Zwane’s snapshot from close range.
Pitso Mosimane made his first change of the game in the 80th minute when brought on Sphelele Mkhulise for Vilakazi.
Mkhulise nearly made an instant impact after he charged into the SuperSport box to try and pick out Sirino, but he’s pas was cleared away from danger.
Tembo made a change of his own when he substituted Evans Rusike to bring on Qalinge in the 82nd minute.
The home side were forced to use their final substitution when Bhasera was forced of the field through injury and was subsequently replaced by Aubrey Modiba with five minutes left to play.
Bradley Grobler and Webber had a chance to put the game to bed but they were unable to steer their efforts on target.
Sundowns made their final change in stoppage time when Lyle Lakay came on for Zwane.
However, this tightly contested affair at the Lucas Moripe Stadium came to an end with Sundowns walking away with a crucial away goal as they head into the second leg.
