Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United will settle their MTN8 semi-final battle when they meet in the decisive second leg at Orlando Stadium in Soweto this afternoon.
The match kicks off at 3pm, with the Buccaneers taking a slender 1-0 advantage into the encounter after winning the first leg at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last Saturday.
Deon Hotto scored the only goal of the first leg in the 43rd minute, leaving Pirates needing to protect their narrow advantage if they are to reach the MTN8 final and continue their pursuit of a fifth consecutive title.
But Babina Noko have refused to accept that their hopes are over.
They travel to Soweto knowing that a one-goal victory would be enough to level the aggregate score, while a two-goal win would send them through to the final.
Sekhukhune assistant coach Paulus Masehe has made it clear that his side cannot afford to sit back.
“There’s nothing that’s left us besides taking the game to Pirates,” Masehe said, insisting that the players must give everything to overturn the deficit.
Masehe believes there were positive periods in the previous encounters between the two teams which Sekhukhune can build on.
The challenge, however, will be doing so against a Pirates side that has already beaten them twice in the space of a week.
The Buccaneers followed their 1-0 MTN8 victory with a 2-0 Betway Premiership win over Sekhukhune on Tuesday, further strengthening their confidence ahead of today’s decisive cup encounter.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will nevertheless know that the job is far from complete.
The Moroccan mentor praised his players for their tactical discipline and organisation in the first leg, but has warned that nothing has been won yet.
The Buccaneers will need to remain focused and disciplined, particularly because Sekhukhune have no reason to protect the scoreline.
For Babina Noko, the task is simple: attack, score and force their way back into the tie.
Their preparations have been complicated by the absence of head coach Cedric Kaze. The Sekhukhune mentor will not be allowed in the technical area after being sent off during Tuesday’s league encounter between the two sides.
Masehe is therefore expected to take charge of the bench, with Papi Zothwane also playing a role in guiding the team from the technical area.
The absence of Kaze could prove significant in a match where tactical decisions, substitutions and the ability to manage pressure could determine which side reaches the final.
Sekhukhune, however, have shown in this competition that they cannot be written off.
They needed extra time to overcome AmaZulu 4-3 in the quarter-finals, with Vuyo Letlapa scoring the decisive goal in the 97th minute.
Pirates, meanwhile, have remained unbeaten in the MTN8 since their last defeat in the competition in 2023 and are attempting to extend their remarkable dominance of the tournament.
Today’s encounter will therefore be more than just another meeting between two familiar opponents.
It is the third time the teams will face each other in just over a week, making tactical surprises difficult. Both technical teams know the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, while the players will have little time to recover from the demanding sequence of matches.
For Pirates, a draw is enough to secure their passage to the final.
For Sekhukhune, victory is essential.
And with a place in the MTN8 final at stake, Orlando Stadium is expected to provide the stage for another fiercely contested encounter between two sides who have already produced a gripping battle over the past week.