Deon Hotto scored a dramatic winning goal in Orlando Pirates’ 2-1 win over Stellenbosch in the MTN8, semi-final, first leg.
The opening stages of the match saw most of the action taking place in Orlando Pirates’ half, but neither team created goal scoring chances in the first ten minutes.
The game became end-to-end but without many clear-cut opportunities for either side in the first fifteen minutes.
The visitors gained control of the ball as the first half progressed, with Stellenbosch sitting back to absorb pressure.
Stellenbosch was reduced to 10 men after 32 minutes when Thabo Moloisane was sent off following a rough challenge on Patrick Maswanganyi.
Despite being under pressure for most of the half, Stellenbosch managed to take the lead just before halftime with a looping header by Ismael Toure from a corner.
In the second half, Orlando Pirates continued to dominate possession and apply pressure, searching for an equalizer. They managed to draw level in the 65th minute when Zakhele Lepasa scored with a glancing header.
Stellenbosch, despite being a man down, did not shy away from attacking and created some goal-scoring opportunities.
The match was tightly contested, with both teams working hard to find a winner. Orlando Pirates finally secured the victory in the 94th minute when Deon Hotto scored a header following a good passing move, earning his team a 2-1 win in Cape Town.