Fierce rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were paired in the South African FA Cup semi-finals draw on Sunday after last-eight victories.
Chiefs edged hosts Royal AM 2-1 in Durban on Sunday, a day after Pirates needed a penalty shootout to eliminate third-tier Dondol Stars following a 1-1 stalemate in Polokwane.
Stellenbosch ended a 26-match unbeaten run since Rhulani Mokwena became Mamelodi Sundowns coach last October by coming from behind to triumph 2-1 in Cape Town.
Their reward is a home semi-final against Sekhukhune United, who scored in the first minute en route to a 2-1 win over Chippa United in Gqeberha.
The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of May 6-7 with the Chiefs-Pirates showdown set to draw a 90,000-plus crowd to the Soccer City stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
Quarter-finals packed with drama included two incidents in Pirates’ match that veteran SuperSport commentator Thabiso Tema labelled “spygate” and “watergate”.
“Spygate” saw Pirates defender Paseka Mako join a Dondol huddle during a first-half break and listen to what the coaches of his opponents were saying.
Amazingly, none of the Dondol players noticed the intruder who, having gleaned the plans of Dondol, did not share them with his teammates.
“I have commentated on many matches down the years and have never seen anything like that,” Tema told viewers.
‘Watergate’
“Watergate” occurred later when Dondol co-coach Khuliso Rashamuse alleged that a Pirates official tampered with the water bottle of his goalkeeper, Sphamandla Gumede.
“Sphamandla is asthmatic and relies on water when he does not have his asthma pump,” the coach told reporters.
“The match is on, the sides are level and Sphamandla is focusing on someone behind his goal taking his water bottle. That was disgusting.”
In the ultra suspicious and superstitious worlds of African football, clubs sometimes believe a bottle of water contains a “magic liquid” that will aid opponents.
Pirates went ahead on 55 minutes through Thembinkosi Lorch, but the minnows, who eliminated two top-flight clubs in prior rounds, levelled within two minutes through Tebogo Makungo.
After each side converted their first four shootout spot-kicks, a timid Dondol penalty was easily saved and Sandile Mthethwa then scored to squeeze Pirates through.
Chiefs, winners of a record 54 domestic trophies but none since 2015, relied on an extra-time Yusuf Maart penalty that went in off the underside of the bar to see off Royal in a dour duel.
Sundowns, who led at half-time through an own-goal by goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt, were undone by two opportunist strikes within nine minutes from Iqraam Rayners.
The forward failed to score for SuperSport United this season, moved to Stellenbosch and has netted 11 times in all competitions.
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