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Cape Town - SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their Tshwane derby in what was the first-leg of the MTN8 semi-final at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
As it happened | SuperSport United v Mamelodi Sundown
Masandawana will be the happier of the two sides as they grabbed a crucial away goal ahead of the second-leg that will be played at the same stadium that both teams share.
Both goals came towards the end of the first half as Thamsanqa Gabuza headed Matsatsantsa in front on 41 minutes but Gaston Sirino equalised just two minutes.
The game started with Sundowns on the front foot and it was the Brazilians that had the first effort on goal as Sirino was denied by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who then also saved from Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Supersport, however, slowly got a foothold in the encounter and it come as no surprise when they took the lead just four minutes from the halftime break.
After some neat build-up play, left-back Onismor Bhasera was played in and found a good cross that was powered into the back of the net by Gabuza, who grabbed his third goal of the competition.
They could not hold onto the lead for long though as just two minutes later Sirino rifled his shot past a helpless Williams after Supersport failed to deal with a low ball into the penalty area.
The second half was entertaining as both sides came close to taking a vital advantage.
Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango did brilliantly to tip an effort over the bar after it hit his own defender while Superport cleared an effort from the goal line with Williams beaten.
Former Orlando Pirates winger Thabo Qalinge came on to make his debut for Matsatsantsa and he gave Sundowns defence plenty of problems but was unable to inspire a winning strike.
Both teams were forced to settle for the draw and will have it all to do at the same venue in the second-leg that will be played on September 18.
