Orlando Pirates fought back from a goal down to defeat Stellenbosch FC 2-1 in an MTN8 semi-final first leg match at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.
Playing with 10 men after Thabo Moloisane’s red card following a bad tackle on Pirates’ Patrick Maswanganyi in the 32nd minute, Stellies took the lead through Ismail Toure on the stroke of half-time.
The Ivorian headed in past Pirates goalkeer Sipho Chaine following a corner kick by Fawaaz Basadien.
The Buccaners started the second brightly, taking the match to Stellies and they equalised through the usual suspect and their topscorer Zakhele Lepasa, who headed in from Maswanganyi’s cross in the 66th minute.
And it looked like the match was going to end in a draw until Deon Hotto netted to give the Soweto giants a 2-1 win.
The two teams will meet again in the second leg scheduled for the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Sunday, 24 September.
