Mamelodi Sundowns will face Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC will meet defending champions Orlando Pirates in the Carling Knockout semi-finals, after the draw was made on Sunday evening at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

The four semi-finalists were confirmed over a dramatic quarter-final weekend in which Chiefs and Stellenbosch both needed late goals to advance, while Sundowns and Pirates had already booked their places earlier in the round.

Sundowns were the first side through, beating Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 in midweek. Pirates followed on Saturday, edging Sekhukhune United by the same scoreline, with Mpho Padime scoring the only goal of the game at the Orlando Amstel Arena.

Chiefs leave it late against Siwelele

Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to beat Siwelele FC 2-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday night. Wandile Duba and Asanele Velebayi scored for Chiefs, with Velebayi striking the winner in the 83rd minute to send Amakhosi into the last four.

The win takes Chiefs into the Carling Knockout semi-finals for the first time since the 2019-20 season, and for the 15th time in the Premier Soccer League era. It also sets up a heavyweight tie against Sundowns, the team that has set the pace in South African football in recent seasons.

Stellenbosch win it in added time

Stellenbosch FC also needed a late goal to reach the semi-finals, beating AmaZulu 2-1 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday. Chumani Butsaka gave the home side the lead in the 29th minute with a volley, only for Mlondi Mbanjwa to equalise for AmaZulu four minutes later.

The tie was decided deep into added time, when Sinoxolo Kwayiba converted a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time to send Stellenbosch through. The result was confirmed by Soccer Laduma, which reported that Kwayiba's late spot-kick settled a match in which AmaZulu had earlier missed a clear chance through Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.

Two heavyweight semi-finals

The draw, held immediately after the Chiefs match, produced two ties with plenty at stake. Sundowns against Chiefs pits two of the country's biggest clubs against each other, while Stellenbosch against Pirates gives the defending champions a difficult away test against a side that has already shown it can win late in this competition.

Pirates won the trophy last season as part of a historic treble, and their coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, has already warned that his side still have work to do despite reaching the last four. Sundowns, meanwhile, arrive on the back of a 3-1 defeat by USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup on Sunday, a reminder that even the country's dominant club side can be beaten on a big occasion.

The Premier Soccer League is expected to confirm the venues, dates and kick-off times for both semi-finals in due course. Domestic football now pauses briefly for the international break before the clubs return to league action ahead of the last-four ties.