The MTN8 semifinal draw has immediately set the thrills light on bright with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns set for another two-legged showdown.
While there is arguing that the two have been the best in the league over the last three years, there have been arguments about who been the better through their PSL era cup competition meetings.
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The first PSL era cup meeting between these two clubs was on November 1, 1997, in the first leg of the Rothmans Cup semifinals.
That tie ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw before they then played a goalless draw in the second leg with Sundowns going through on the away goals rule.
The Brazilians went through again in the two-legged semifinals of the 1999 Rothmans Cup.
Pirates then won the 2000 BP Top8 semifinal (played over one leg and not two) on their way to lifting the trophy that years.
The two had to wait seven years to meet again in the cup when Sundowns winning the 2007 SAA Supa8 final in Durban.
They met again in the 2011 MTN8 semifinals with Pirates going through 4-3 on aggregate.
Pirates won 3-2 at home and then drew 1-1 in the away leg.
The Bucs then won again in the 2022 semifinals of the MTN8.
After a goalless draw at Orlando, Pirates then won 3-0 at Peter Mokaba Sradium on their way to lifting their first of three trophies in a row in this competition.
That defeat led to the co-coaching arrangement of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena which gave the former the final say being dismantled with the latter taking over as sole head coach.
Pirates won the 2023 final on penalties against Sundowns after the two teams could not be separated in open play.
The most recent cup competition meeting between the two clubs was the 2024 Nedbank Cup final won by Pirates.
As it stands Pirates have eights win (inclusive of their penalty shootout victory in the 2023 MTN8 final).
Sundowns have five wins.
This gives Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team the cup competition history edge over their rivals who have Miguel Cardoso in charge.
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The first leg of the semifinals is on August 16 with Pirates at home while the second leg will be played on August 23 in Pretoria.
Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune will contest the other semifinal.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
