Consider Sundowns and AmaZulu in the MTN8 final

One can’t help but appreciate the fact that both of last weekend’s MTN8 semi-final first legs were proper contests.

Orlando Pirates’ goalless draw with the holders Mamelodi Sundowns – which I made a fuss about in this column last week – indeed turned out to be worth all the fuss.

Despite the absence of goals, it was the football that made the game viewing pleasure.  The Buccaneers’ new recruit Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s performance, which won him the Man of the Match award in his debut appearance for the club, was indeed the game’s highlight.

The ex-Marumo Gallants man’s wizardry in a Pirates midfield that often lacks spark was refreshing. Not that it could have possibly matched the standards set at the Orlando Stadium the previous day, but Kaizer Chiefs’ semi-against AmaZulu was also not bad.

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It was in fact better than that, for Amakhosi went into it under immense pressure to win at home. And they indeed played like a team that wanted to win and managed to come from behind to draw 1-1 and avoid another embarrassing result.

As I predicted last week, the Pirates-Sundowns game revealed a few things about just how good both sides are this season.

Sundowns proved they are still the better team – their better ball retention and better goal-scoring chances suggested this.

Pirates, on the other hand, were impressive in how they were brave enough to go toe-to-toe with the mighty Brazilians. They showed the kind of arrogance that a big club playing at home ought to display.

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But I also watched them in their loss to Sekhukhune United in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday, and it became clear that there’s still work to do.

What I’ve started to call ‘Riveiroball’ – the aggressive playing style that’s being overseen by coach José Riveiro – still lacks goals.

Having not created a plethora of goal-scoring chances against Sundowns is not a sin. But failing to also create enough chances against a Sekhukhune side that they should be beating is concerning.

That lack of cutting edge in the final third of the pitch won’t help them in their semi-final second leg. AmaZulu, on the other hand, takes a crucial away goal to Durban for their return leg against Chiefs.

They should be better than Amakhosi at home, having survived the first leg playing with 10 men in the second half. Expect them to get the job done against opponents that are rebuilding.