Deon Hotto Gives Orlando Pirates First-Leg Win Over Sekhukhune in MTN8 Semi-Final
Orlando Pirates have put themselves in a strong position to reach the MTN8 final after edging Sekhukhune United 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
The decisive moment came shortly before half-time when Namibian international Deon Hotto found the back of the net to give the defending champions a valuable lead going into the return fixture.
The opening half was closely contested, with both teams showing caution while looking for an opportunity to break the deadlock. Pirates eventually found the breakthrough through Hotto, whose finish in the 43rd/44th minute proved enough to separate the sides.
Sekhukhune returned from the break determined to level the contest and put the Pirates defence under pressure. However, the visitors remained organised and protected their advantage until the final whistle.
The result gives Orlando Pirates an important away victory and leaves Sekhukhune with a narrow deficit to overturn in the second leg.
Pirates, who are defending their MTN8 crown, will now return home knowing that another disciplined performance could take them into another final. The Buccaneers have been particularly successful in the competition in recent seasons and are chasing another appearance in the title decider.
For Sekhukhune, the tie is far from over. A one-goal difference means they still have a realistic opportunity to turn the contest around when the teams meet again in Soweto.
The two sides will actually face each other twice in the space of a few days, with a league meeting scheduled before the decisive MTN8 second leg on 29 August.
With only one goal separating the teams, the second leg promises to be another tense encounter, with Sekhukhune needing to find a way through the Pirates defence while the defending champions look to protect their advantage and move one step closer to another MTN8 trophy.
