Maritzburg look to dent Sundowns’ hopes

by Staff Reporter

Monday Mar 11, 2019. 15:00

Maritzburg United will look to dent Mamelodi Sundowns’ Absa Premiership title hopes when the teams meet at Harry Gwala Stadium on 12 March 2019, kick-off at 19h30.

Maritzburg suffered their 12th defeat of the league season when they were beaten 1-0 at Kaizer Chiefs on March 9. Yet the KwaZulu-Natal side has taken six points from the last 12 up for grabs.

The Team of Choice has claimed 12 points from 11 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 win at home to provincial rivals AmaZulu in early March.

Sundowns have won just once in their last five league outings and suffered their first away defeat of the season when they were beaten 2-1 at Cape Town City on March 5.

The Brazilians have claimed 21 points from 10 away matches this season, recording six wins, three draws and just one loss on the road.

In head-to-head stats, Sundowns and Maritzburg have met in 25 league matches since 2005/06. The Brazilians have claimed 16 wins compared to three for the Team of Choice, while six matches have been drawn. The KwaZulu-Natal side has claimed two wins from 12 home matches in the rivalry, suffering seven defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in January, Sundowns claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a second-half strike from Hlompho Kekana. The Brazilians are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches against the Team of Choice.

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 1-0 loss to Chiefs on March 9: Ofori, Xulu, Sanoka, Allie, Kunene, Makaringe, Timm, Shandu (Mekoa 57'), Ndlovu, Mokate (Moseamedi 59'), Zakri (Kateregga 70').

Sundowns’ line-up from their 2-1 loss to Cape Town City on March 5: Mweene, Langerman, Ngcongca, Lebusa, Coetzee, Mabunda, Kekana, Zwane, Sirino (Mahlambi 74'), Tade (Jali 86'), Maboe (Laffor 90').