Pirates beat Sundowns

MTN8 semi-final 3-2 against Mamelodi Sundowns in a thriller at Orlando Stadium yesterday
It was an action-packed opening 45 minutes as both sides looked to attack from the first whistle and goalmouth action was in abundance.
In fact, we only had to wait six minutes before the game saw its first goal, which was superbly set up by the Buccaneers’ Benni McCarthy with a delicate pass to find Thulasizwe Mbuyane inside the box. He then proceeded to beat one defender before slipping the ball past Wayne Sandilands.
“Downs, though, were intent on hitting back as soon as possible and, after a great passing movement by the Brazilians saw Lebohang Mokoena pulled down inside the box by Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi, they had their chance from the penalty spot.
Katlego Mphela stepped up but saw his effort brilliantly saved by Moneeb Josephs diving to his right, but when the ball came back into his path off the keeper’s gloves, Mphela made no mistake with the rebound.
Then, and only four minutes later after going a goal down early on, the Brazilians took the lead after a great counter-attack from the visitors.
Elias Pelembe was quick to notice the opportunity and attacked down the left flank before supplying a good cross into the box that was magnificently volleyed home by Musa Nyatama from just inside the 18-yard area.
In the 21st minute Pirates came within centimetres of equalising in the most bizarre of circumstances when Ramahlwe Mphahlele tried to clear the ball on the edge of his own box, but saw his clearance rebound of Daine Klate and head towards the goal.
Luckily for Sandilands, who was out of position, he saw the ball bounce of the top side of the crossbar and not into the back of his net.
In the 37th minute only the head of Punch Masenamela kept the Brazilians in front when Happy Jele met a right-sided corner at the back post, but his header was cleared off the goalline by the Sundowns leftback.
The second half saw the Brazilians sitting back in defence and trying to defend their lead. Pirates, on the other hand, pushed numbers forward in search of the equaliser.
Tlou Segolela, in particular, looked extremely dangerous for the Sundowns defence creating goal-scoring chances for the Buccaneers almost every time he touched the ball.
Finally, in the 79th minute, Pirates were able to make their relentless pressure pay off when Segolela found the back of the net with a thunderous shot from just inside the 18-yard area that rattled the underside of the crossbar before going in, 2-2.
In the second minute of added time Segolela was in the thick of the action again and won his side a penalty-kick after being pulled down inside the box by Surprise Moriri.
Bongani Ndulula coolly stepped up and sent keeper the wrong way to give his side the lead. – Supersport.com