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South African heavyweight clubs Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will contest the 2024 Nedbank Cup final at the Mbombela Stadium today.
It will be the first time they have clashed in the decider since the competition was first played in its current guise in 2008, in fact the first time that two of South Africa’s so-called “Big 3”, which also includes Kaizer Chiefs, have met in the Nedbank Cup final.
Given that both these teams have enjoyed tremendous success in the competition over the past 16 years, with Sundowns claiming four trophy wins and holders Pirates three, they have in fact never met past the quarterfinal stage.
In the five previous clashes, Pirates lead the head-to-head 3-2, and return to the scene of their final triumph in 2011 when they beat second-tier Black Leopards 3-1 in Mbombela.
Here is a look back at past clashes between Pirates and Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup.
2009/10 – QUARTER-FINALS (MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 3-1 ORLANDO PIRATES)
2010/11 – LAST 32 (ORLANDO PIRATES 1-0 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS)
2013/14 – QUARTER-FINALS
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
1-2 ORLANDO PIRATES
Another win for Pirates as they edged a tight contest at Loftus Stadium having taken an early lead via an Oupa Manyisa penalty after Helder Pelembe was brought down in the box. The latter’s namesake Elias Pelembe equalised midway through the first half with a superb finish as he rifled the ball past Senzo Meyiwa in the Pirates goal.
The latter was the hero for the home side as he kept them in the game with a strong of fine saves, before Daine Klate struck with a trademark free-kick that flew into the net from 30-yards.
2015/16 – QUARTER-FINALS
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 0-2 ORLANDO PIRATES
A tense quarterfinal that went to extra-time before 10-man Pirates came out victors thanks to goals from Tendai Ndoro and Mpho Makola.
Brighton Mhlongo was a busy man in the Pirates goal as he kept his side in the contest, their chances not helped by a red card for Edwin Gyimah with 20 minutes left in ordinary time.
Ndoro got the opener on 112 minutes when he ran onto a deep diagonal ball and produced a cool finish, before providing a second for Makola to make it 2-0 and seal the win.
2020/21 – QUARTER-FINALS
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 4-1 ORLANDO PIRATES
Sundowns ran out handsome winners with a 4-1 success in a pulsating tie that was closer than the scoreline suggests.
The expert finishing of Peter Shalulile gave The Brazilians the lead, but Pirates levelled before the breakthrough striker Tshegofatso Mabasa.
An excellent goal from Themba Zwane restored the advantage early in the second period, before Pirates threw everything they had at Sundowns.
But just as they were pushing more players forward in search of the equaliser, they were hit by a third from Lesedi Kapinga, before Hlompho Kekana added a late fourth. – SuperSport.
Online Reporter