Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns drew 0-0 in their MTN8 semi-final first leg tie on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates gave Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo a debut along side a surprise re-call for Monnapule Saleng for the first time this season. For Sundowns, Thabiso Kutumela made his first outing this term for Sundowns.
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There was no shortage of drama notable from the Buccaneers early on where a curling free-kick to the back-post from Saleng caught Ronwen Williams unaware and bounced off the upright.
Masandawana began to have a lot of the ball after a subdued spell and delivered balls into wide areas, but couldn't allocate their talisman upfront Peter Shalulile.
Sundowns didn't drop the momentum as halftime approached and a first-time volley from the edge of the area by Maema shaved over the top of the woodwork.
No substitutions were made from either of the respective sides as the second half resumed following a pretty even opening spell in the match.
Pirates were very close to a breakthrough five minutes in the resumption when Zakhele Lepasa charged on a looping ball in the area and brought Willams to work through a close-range shot.
The Brazilians turned to the bench at this point and in came in Bongani Zungu for Andile Jali before Marcelo Allende dropped in for Maema.
These introductions brought renewed urgency which allowed the Buccaneers little of the ball and no outlets in the wide and central areas of the field too.
Pirates made their first change towards the closing quarter as the returning Kermit Erasmus who joined from Sundowns on the transfer deadline day replaced Lepasa.
With fulltime in sight, Erasmus nearly got the opener on his second debut for the Buccaneers through a smart curler outside the area but Williams tipped away.
Pirates edged closer again in the final minutes through a snap effort by substitute Vincent Pule, but he didn't profit and goalless it finished.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Ofori, Maela, Sibisi, Ndah, Mosele, Timm, Shandu, Hotto, Saleng, Ndlondlo, Lepasa
Subs: Mpontshane, Pule, Mako, Xoki, Dlamini, Makaringe, Motshwari, Erasmus
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Modiba, Mudau, Kekana, De Reuck, Jali, Mokoena, Maema, Zwane, Kutumela, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, Morena, Ngobeni, Mailula, Allende, Lebusa, Zungu, Sirino, Saavedra
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