Orlando Pirates left it late in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal clash against Stellenbosch this weekend, as Deon Hotto’s 94th-minute header separated the two sides in a 2-1 win for Bucs at a packed Athlone Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

With the Soweto club returning to Athlone for the first time since 2019, most of the football was played inside the Orlando Pirates half during the opening stages of the encounter. However, no notable chances were created by either side inside the first 10 minutes of the match.

The game petered out after an end-to-end affair with 15 minutes on the lock, however, both defences sat tight in warding off the respective attacking advancements.

Pirates began seeing most of the ball halfway through the first half, as the home side sat back in soaking up the pressure. Stellies were reduced to 10-men after 32 minutes played, with Thabo Moloisane receiving his marching orders following a rough challenge on Patrick Maswanganyi.

Despite playing under the cosh for most of the half, it was Stellenbosch who took the lead shortly before the break. In making the most of a corner situation, Ismael Toure rose highest and gave his side the lead with a looping header inside the area.

As the second half commenced, the Soweto giants piled on the pressure by asserting themselves on the ball. With Stellies reduced to defending on the edge of their area, Pirates continued to ask questions soon after the break.

Despite being a man down, Stellenbosch were not shy to commit numbers going forward and looked to attack at every opportunity. After an hour played in Athlone, Pirates continued to chip away in search of an equalizer.

The Soweto giants drew level in the 65th minute, as Zakhele Lepasa proved to be deadly in front of goal yet again. After a pin-point ball was whipped into the box, the attacker’s glancing header dumbfounded Sage Stephens in goal.

Pirates were met with dogged defending by Stellenbosch as the 80th minute approached, with the travelling side working hard to find a winner. However, the Cape Winelands side carved out a couple of goal-scoring opportunities during this period but failed to make the most of their chances in the final third.

After plugging away for much of the second half, Pirates' pressure paid off in the 94th minute as Deon Hotto got his name on the scoresheet. Following a good passing move on the edge of the Stellies area, Hotto managed to get on the end of a telling cross played into the area, as Pirates nicked a positive result in Cape Town.

Stellenbosch: (1) 1 (Toure 45+’)

Orlando Pirates: (0) 2 (Lepasa 65’, Hotto 94’)

Stellenbosch: Stephens, van Rooyen, Moloisane, Toure, Basadien, Nduli (Mgaga 78’), Mthethwa, Adams (Oura 78’), Sibande (Boji 57’), de Jong (Palace 46’), Rayners (Mcaba 46’)

Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Mako (Erasmus 67’), Xoki (Maela 78’), Sibisi, Shandu (Monyane 89’), Ndlondlo, Monare (Mofokeng 67’), Hotto, Maswanganyi, Saleng (Monyane 89’), Lepasa