Maritzburg welcome Highlands for first cup clash

Riyaad Norodien of Cape Town City challenges Siyanda Xulu of Maritzburg United during the MTN 8 Quarter final match between Maritzburg United and Cape Town City on the 12 August 2018 at Harry Gwala Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Oct 19, 2018. 13:08

Maritzburg United and Highlands Park will have their first-ever cup clash when they meet in the last 16 of the Telkom Knockout, set for the Harry Gwala Stadium on 20 October 2018, kick-off at 20h15.

Maritzburg come into the game on the back of a goalless draw at home to Cape Town City in their last outing before the international break. The KwaZulu-Natal side is unbeaten in their last five matches, though the sequence of results includes four 0-0 draws.

The Team of Choice has never won the League Cup, nor reached the final, while last season they were eliminated in the first round on penalties by Platinum Stars (the game ended 0-0 after extra time).

Highlands come into the game on the back of a 2-1 home win over Chippa United prior to the international break. The Makhulong-based side has suffered just one defeat so far this season and have made a solid if unspectacular return to the PSL.

The Lions of the North will be appearing in the Telkom Knockout for just the second time. Their debut was in 2016 when they got as far as the quarterfinals before losing 2-1 to Orlando Pirates.

This will be the first cup meeting of Maritzburg and Highlands, but they have at least clashed in two league games in the 2016/17 season: the teams drew 1-1 in Pietermaritzburg in the first half of the campaign, while the return game saw the Gauteng side claim a 1-0 home win thanks to a goal from Surprise Moriri.