Mamelodi Sundowns complete MTN8 comeback to set up Orlando Pirates final

Mamelodi Sundowns will face rivals Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final after overturning a first-leg deficit against Golden Arrows, with head coach Miguel Cardoso praising his players’ resilience following a dramatic second-leg victory at King Zwelithini Stadium.

The Brazilians scored three times to secure their place in the final, despite Golden Arrows having kept clean sheets throughout the competition before the match. The result means Sundowns will meet Pirates on 10 October in a fixture that brings together last season’s Betway Premiership champions and runners-up.

The venue for the final has yet to be confirmed.

Cardoso said Sundowns had needed to show a strong mentality after arriving for the second leg at a disadvantage. He also acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down an Arrows side he described as energetic, committed and defensively disciplined.

“It’s not easy to score three goals against Golden Arrows considering they did not conceded a single goal before this match. They are a team who play with a lot of energy and defend with a lot of compromise and commitment. We had to build a positive attitude around this match after arriving here with a strong disadvantage.

“Since we play in the CAF Champions League, we have grown used to this kind of context where it is very important not to suffer home goals, but we knew once we got the away goal that would then put the pressure back on Arrows.”

The away-goal rule played a decisive role in the tie, with Sundowns’ strike away from home altering the pressure on Golden Arrows and contributing to the eventual outcome.

Cardoso’s side had to manage a contest which he said could change at any moment. The Sundowns coach explained that his substitutions were therefore made carefully as the match remained finely balanced and was played on the edge.

The Portuguese coach also addressed his decision to rotate the squad early in the campaign, following the return of defender Khulumani Ndamane.

Sundowns have been using different starting line-ups as they negotiate a demanding run of fixtures across a short period. Cardoso said the team’s ability to maintain stability despite those changes would depend on patience, commitment and time together.

“We have the same team, but always different lineups because there are so many matches in a short period of time, and our stability in rotation comes with time, patience, and commitment from the players.”

The victory keeps Sundowns’ MTN8 campaign alive and gives them another meeting with Pirates to look forward to. The final will place the two leading sides from last season’s Betway Premiership against one another, with the date set for 10 October and the stadium still to be announced.

For Cardoso, however, the immediate significance was the manner in which his team responded when the tie appeared to be against them. Sundowns’ three-goal comeback against Golden Arrows ensured they reached the final after a demanding second leg in Durban.