Orlando Pirates have secured the upper hand in their MTN8 semifinal tie against Sekhukhune United, claiming a 1-0 away win in the first leg match, played at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A tense and tight match was decided by a fine strike from Deon Hotto late in the first half, keeping the Buccaneers well in contention for a fifth successive MTN8 title. However, Babina Noko will feel they are more than capable of overturning a one-goal deficit when the tie is completed in Soweto next weekend.

The teams took their time to find an attacking rhythm in the Limpopo heat, but Pirates gradually took control of the game and began to threaten from the midway point of the first half onward.

Sekhukhune goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi made his first notable save in the 33rd minute when he did well to hold onto a dipping free kick from Oswin Appollis, and he made an even better stop five minutes later to turn away a long-range free kick from Hotto.

However, the Buccaneers finally broke through in the 43rd minute when Ghampani Lungu’s clever flick put Hott into space down the left of the penalty area, and the Namibian crashed a powerful drive into the top corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Babina Noko almost claimed an equaliser out of nowhere in the 58th minute, with substitute Thabo Nkwana driving forward down the right and trying his luck with a low shot – the effort appeared no major threat, but bobbled up just ahead of Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and ended up skipping just wide of the target for a corner kick.

The visitors made a triple substitution 20 minutes into the second half, including a debut for Sebastian Pedersen. The Norwegian forward had a fine chance in the 80th minute to score his first goal for the club, but sliced an effort off target from the edge of the box.

Seven minutes later Lungu almost made it 2-0 after he stole possession high up the field and fired off a shot from the left of the box, but his low drive flashed just wide.

The teams will play each other again on Tuesday 25 August in a Betway Premiership match, before meeting for the return leg of this semifinal tie, set for the Orlando Stadium on Saturday 29 August.

Sekhukhune United 0

Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Hotto 43’)

Sekhukhune: Buthelezi, Mobbie (Ndlozi 90’), Matsimbi, Cardoso, Kazeem, Mkhize, Tlaka (Khiba 76’), Mojela (Nkwana 46’), Mokoane (Ramabu 67’), Rammala (Phiri 76’), Ndlovu

Pirates: Chaine, Sebelebele, Seema, Sibisi, Hotto (Rapoo 81’), Mokobodi (Selepe 65’), Masilela (Dansin 46’), Lungu, Mthiyane, Appollis (Kgosietsile 65’), Mbuthuma (Pedersen 67’)