Orlando Pirates defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 on Saturday afternoon to secure their spot in the final of the MTN8.
Pirates made one change for the clash with Fortune Makaringe coming in for Kabelo Dlamini, and the Brazilians also featured a single change in Aubrey Modiba for Mosa Lebusa from their win over Marumo Gallants.
Pirates started brightly and went in front on eight minutes after Monnapule Saleng beat Modiba down the byline and crossed for Kermit Erasmus to head in from point-blank range.
Masandawana looked to hit back inside three minutes through a pin-point corner-kick towards the far post by Gaston Sirino, but goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane parried emphatically.
A rather tense quarter showed thereafter where tough challenges across the offensive third from the respective teams followed and this in turn limited the amount of chances up top.
Pirates looked to finish in the first half through deliveries in and around the area by Saleng and James Monyane, but the reigning champions held their lines and sustained the threats.
The Buccaneers' mounted further pressure on the Brazilians minutes after the break, as neither side made changes before the resumption of the match.
Masandawana piled numbers forward in a desperate attempt to get back in the match, but were unable to get beyond the Buccaneers whilst Gift Motupa and Neo Maema entered.
Pirates were forced back a little afterwards and needed a telling save from Mpontshane to smother an equally telling attempt around the area by Motupa.
The Buccaneers didn't lose rhythm and doubled their lead after Saleng combined with Zakhele Lepasa and applied a composed finish from just inside the box in the last seven minutes.
Masandawana were down to ten players seconds to the end after Modiba was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Saleng.
Saleng would go on to have the last laugh as he pounced on a defensive lapse and rifled the ball into the top corner to complete his brace as the Soweto giants advanced to the final.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, De Reuck, Kekana, Mvala, Mokoena, Mkhulise, Zwane, Sirino, Allende
Subs: D.Onyango, Morena, Mailula, Jali, Maboe, Domingo, Motupa, Lebusa, Maema
Orlando Pirates: Mpontshane, Maela, Sibisi, Ndah, Monyane, Timm, Makaringe, Saleng, Hotto, Ndlondlo, Erasmus
Subs: Chaine, Mako, Shandu, Lepasa, Mosele, Dlamini, Makgopa, Makgaka, Motshwari
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