Michael Madyira
Monnapule Saleng’s brace and Kermit Erasmus’ strike fired Orlando Pirates into the MTN8 final on a 3-0 victory that booted out defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Erasmus struck eight minutes into this semi-final, second-leg showdown at Peter Mokaba Stadium before Saleng’s late double.
After the reverse leg at Orlando Stadium ended 0-0 earlier this month, Pirates advanced to the final on a 3-0 aggregate scoreline and ended a seven-match winless run against Sundowns.
The Buccaneers are now on course to reclaim the MTN8 which they last won two seasons ago and await the winner between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu on Sunday.
They are bidding for an 11th MTN8 title and on Saturday, they saw off a Sundowns side that finished the contest with 10 men following a stoppage-time red card to Aubrey Modiba.
Rain threatened the start of the match but the sky cleared to allow the game to proceed.
Sundowns were missing injured striker Peter Shalulile, while for Pirates, goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane replaced injured Richard Ofori.
It did not take long for the Buccaneers to claim the lead with Erasmus haunting his former employers who offloaded him in September.
Saleng shrugged off Modiba’s challenge before crossing for an unmarked Erasmus to head in, leaving Sundowns with a harder task to score twice to progress to the final.
Sundowns almost immediately hit back but Mpontshane impressively dived to collect Mothobi Mvala’s header.
The Buccaneers could have doubled their lead in the 18th minute after Deon Hotto was released by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo but the Namibian was slow and got dispossessed.
Few chances came in Sundowns’ way just like in the first leg but at the opposite end, Pirates struggled for that finishing touch although Saleng was a handful for Modiba.
Teboho Mokoena then tried to beat the halftime whistle with a long-range shot but found Mpontshane alert to save and allow Pirates to go to the break while in the driving seat.
It appeared Masandawana made impactful second-half substitutes as Gift Motupa and Maema came close to equalising both just before the hour mark.
But they struggled for a breakthrough while Pirates did not have clear cut chances until seven minutes from the final whistle.
Saleng scored his fourth goal in two games by shooting past Sundowns defenders and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams off a feed from substitute Zakhele Lepasa.
With three minutes to go, Motupa was denied by the crossbar and a minute later headed straight at Mpontshane as the Tshwane giants pushed to launch a late comeback.
As tempers flared, Modiba was red-carded right at the death in what was the second time this season for him to be sent off.
Saleng then threw the contest before Sundowns’ reach by totally evading Rushine de Reuck, before his curler nestled in the net.
Image source @OrlandoPirates
