Betting Notebook: MTN8 semi-finals (1st leg)

In the afternoon, Sundowns make the short trip to Orlando to face Pirates, aiming to pile more pressure on teh Bucaneers. And then later in the day, Stellenbosch hosts Sekhukhune, aiming to get their season up and running.

.It’s a rare occasion where the Top 4 teams from last season are in the semi-finals of the competition. Yet, that shows how strong these teams are compared to the rest. This is a guide to the action.

Semi-final 1: Orlando Pirates v Sundowns

The MTN8 has not been kind to Sundowns over the years. The Brazilians have reached the semi-finals on more occasions than any other team (17), but they only have two titles to show for it (2007 and 2021). On the other hand, Pirates have made a habit of winning the Top 8. Not only have they won it more than any other PSL side (7 times), they are currently on an all-time record of three consecutive Top8 titles.

Having said that, it’s Sundowns who will be coming into this with a swagger, after a 4-0 cruise in the quarter-finals and a 4-point return in their first two league games. Their hosts meanwhile, have lost both games to open the league (something that hasn’t happened in 18 years), so it’s been a rocky start to life for new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. He may have to lean on history to motivate his players for this one – Pirates have lost just one of the last 10 Cup matches against Sundowns, a run going back to 2010, winning six and drawing three games. Their home form has been patchy, though, and that may give Sundowns even more hope.

1 – This is Pirates’ 10th home game in all competitions since the start of April, and they have won just three of the previous nine (D4 L2).

Team to win: Sundowns or draw

Semi-final 2: Stellenbosch v Sekhukhune

Sekhukhune might just be one of the most underrated teams in the top flight right now. They were unfortunate to miss out on a CAF spot last season, but in beating TS Galaxy (twice) and Pirates have started their season with a perfect three from three. It’s the best 100% record of any team so far, given they have played more than other 100% teams. Not only is it a good start, it’s also a rare occurrence for them – at no point last season did Sekhukhune win three games in a row. One has to go back more than two years to January 2023 for the last and only time they had a longer run (4 games).

Their hosts have had a mixed start to the campaign. They needed extra time to beat AmaZulu in the quarter-finals, lost their first league game of the season and drew their second. Steve Barker will be hungry for a win that kickstarts their season. Their home form will be a source of encouragement for him. Only one team has won away to Stellies this year (Kaizer Chiefs – three times), with the other 14 visitors leaving with either a draw or a defeat. History suggests this may be a tight affair.

10 – This is the 10th match between the sides across all competitions, with eight of the previous nine matches ending in a draw.

Team to win: Draw