Tickets sold out for gigantic Pirates-Sundowns MTN8 clash | OneFootball

Pirates and Sundowns set to lock horns in sold out affair

Picture courtesy of Bussiness Live

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced that tickets for the highly anticipated MTN8 semi f inal clash between defending champions Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have officially been sold out.

Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men will host Miguel Cardoso’s side at the famed Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 16 August, in what is expected to be a blockbuster encounter, with the first piece of silverware on the line.

The two South African giants met in this stage of the tournament during the 2022/23 campaign, where the Buccaneers came out on top with a 3-0 aggregate win across the two legs, en route to lifting the trophy.

Pirates have enjoyed significant success in the competition, having won it three times in a row under Jose Riveiro. Bucs became the first team in PSL history to three peat the MTN8, taking their total tally to 10 titles – four behind fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Meanwhile, despite being dominant in the Betway Premiership, Sundowns have somewhat of a cup hoodoo in recent seasons, as they last won a domestic cup competition in during the 2021/22 season under the dual tutelage of Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi.

The Brazilians lost the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup final to the Sea Robbers, both in the 2023/24 season as Pirates won back-to-back cup doubles. Moreover, Sundowns were stunned 2-1 by newly promoted Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout Cup final last season.

With Cardoso in his first full season in charge at Chloorkop, he will undoubtedly be under pressure and determined to deliver domestic cup success, while Ouaddou will be eager to guide the Mayfair club to the successful defense of their crown.

The other semi-final match has Stellenbosch FC up against Sekhukhune United, who have been vocal about their ambitions for a first-ever trophy in the topflight. Babina Noko came close in the 2022/23 season but fell to Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final.