Sundowns look to turn semifinal tie around

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Aug 31, 2018. 14:30

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to turn around their 2018 MTN8 semifinal tie when they host Cape Town City at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday, September 2. Kick-off is set for 15h00 CAT.

City won the teams’ first-leg clash in Cape Town on August 25, with defender Taariq Fielies scoring the only goal of the game. ‘Downs will have to triumph by two clear goals or more on the day to win the tie outright, or by a score of 1-0 to take the clash to penalties. Anything else will see the coastal side advance into the final.

The Brazilians have won the Top Eight Cup three times, though not since the competition was renamed the MTN8. The Tshwane’s side last triumph in the competition was back in 2007 when it was still known as the SAA Supa8.

The Citizens, meanwhile, are looking for a second successive final showing. Their MTN8 debut in 2016 saw them eliminated in the semifinals by Bidvest Wits (3-0 on aggregate), while last year they reached the final and held SuperSport United 1-1, only to be beaten on post-match penalties (4-2). This year the Cape side will looking to go one step further and claim the trophy for the first time.

Last weekend’s meeting was just the second cup clash between the teams (the series is level at one win apiece), and the sixth match across all competitions since 2016/17 – City hold a four wins to two wins lead in this regard, and will take great hope from the fact that they have triumphed in both of their away league matches against the Brazilians in the past two seasons.

The aggregate winners of this tie will face either Kaizer Chiefs or SuperSport United in the MTN8 final, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 29. The tie is level at 2-2 on aggregate from the first leg, with the return game set to be played in Soweto on Saturday, September 1.

Match details from the first-leg, semifinal between City and Sundowns:

Cape Town City (0) 1 (Fielies 75’)
Mamelodi Sundowns 0

City: Leeuwenburgh, Mkhize, Fielies, Kouassi (Mngonyama 46’), Seedat, Putsche, Modise (Links 66’), Nodada, Martin, Patosi (Abrahams 86’), Rusike

Sundowns: Mweene, Ngcongca, Lebusa, Madisha, Lakay, Laffor, Mohomi, Mkhulise, Toni Silva (Manyisa 90+2’), Maboe, Meza (Langerman 74’)