Orlando Pirates eliminated Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 semi-finals to set up a date in the final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Ghosts made it to the top-eight final for the second season in a row after winning the trophy last season.
Orlando Pirates hosted Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium holding a 2-1 advantage on aggregate after the first leg finished in favour of the Buccaneers.
The Soweto giants dominated the ball position in the first ten minutes of the match but they couldn’t create real goal-scoring opportunities.
Stellies came close to finding an opener with Iqraam Rayners storming into Pirates box with pace but Sipho Chaine and Sandile Mthethwa teamed up to eliminate the danger.
RAYNERS SCORE EARLY GOALS FOR STELLENBOSCH
Rayners could not be denied for the second time after finding the back of the net with a powerful shot from outside of the box in the 21st minute.
Pirates went in search of a quick response and nearly found an equaliser through Tapelo Xoki who saw his powerful header from the corner kick go inches away off target.
Rayners came close to finding his second goal of the match in the 40th minute but Chaine came off his make a crucial save.
The referee Thando Ndzandzeka blew the half-time whistle with Steve Barker’s troops leading 1-0.
Pirates made changes at the start of the second half with Lesedi Kapinga replacing Monnapule Saleng.
Stellenbosch were dealt with a heavy blow and made a forced substitution after Rayners sustained an injury.
Zakhele Lepasa came close to levelling matters for Pirates late in the second but his shot went over the crossbar.
Despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch, Pirates made it to the final of MTN8 with an away goal advantage. The Soweto-based outfit managed to score two away goals away to Stellenbosch.
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