Sundowns chase first home win

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Aug 16, 2018. 10:25

Mamelodi Sundowns will chase their first home win in the Absa Premiership this season when they host Highlands Park at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 22 August 2018, kick-off at 19h30.

Sundowns picked up a fine victory in their last league outing, as goals from Ricardo Nascimento and Lebohang Maboe took them to a 2-0 win away to Polokwane City on August 7.

The Brazilians are preparing to host their second league match of the 2018/19 season, with their first ended in a 1-1 draw with fellow heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs on the first weekend of the month.

Highlands played to a second successive draw at the start of the season when they were held 2-2 at home by fellow promoted club Black Leopards on August 9. Yet the Makhulong-based side will feel they let two points slip away, having held a 2-0 lead until injury time.

The Lions of the North’s first away game this season saw them draw 1-1 at Orlando Pirates on the opening weekend of the month, suggesting they can compete with the Absa Premiership’s best teams.

In head-to-head stats, Sundowns and Highlands have met in two previous league matches. Both encounters took place in the 2016/17 season, with the Brazilians claiming a 5-0 home win in the first half of the campaign, while the return game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Sundowns’ line-up from their 2-0 win over Polokwane on August 7: Onyango (Mweene 45'+6), Lakay, Morena, Nascimento, Madisha, Mabunda, Sirino (Langerman 84'), Manyisa, Zwane, Maboe, Brockie (Meza 69').

Highlands’ line-up from their 2-2 draw with Leopards on August 9: Kapini, Fransman, Motsepe, L. Mokoena (Msimango 67'), Ramoraka, Mvala, Zwane (Williams 69'), Mahlangu (Versuur 84'), Rae, Nyemb, M. Mokoena.