Sundowns open title defence with Tshwane derby

by Staff Reporter

Friday Aug 02, 2019. 13:38

Mamelodi Sundowns will open the defence of their Absa Premiership title with a clash against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday 3 August 2019, kick-off at 15h00.

Sundowns ended last season with a 1-0 win away to Free State Stars, a result which secured a second successive Absa Premiership title (and a record-extending ninth national title in the PSL era). They recorded 16 wins, 11 draws and three defeats for a haul of 59 points.

The Brazilians claimed 25 points from 15 home matches last season. SuperSport were one of just two teams (the other being AmaZulu) to defeat ‘Downs on their home ground.

SuperSport ended last season with a 2-0 loss at home to Highlands Park on May 11, a result which saw them end in sixth place on the log. They recorded 12 wins, eight draws and 10 defeats for a haul of 44 points.

Matsatsantsa claimed 19 points in away matches last season: P15 W5 D4 L6. The Tshwane side lost both of their last two games on the road in 2018/19.

In head-to-head terms, United and Sundowns have clashed in 56 league matches since 1990. The Brazilians have dominated the rivalry, claiming 29 wins compared to 15 for Matsatsantsa, while 12 games have been drawn. The team in yellow have managed 12 wins from 28 home matches in the rivalry, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

Last season, Sundowns won 2-1 away to United in December 2018 thanks to goals from Lebohang Maboe and Lyle Lakay, while Matsatsantsa won the return game in April 2019 2-0 with strikes from Grant Kekana and Ghampani Lungu.

Sundowns’ line-up from their 2-0 loss to SuperSport on April 17: Mweene, Ngcongca, Arendse, Nascimento, Langerman (Jali 89′), Mabunda, Kekana, Lakay, Zwane, Mahlambi (Brockie 67′), Tade (Vilakazi 66′).

SuperSport’s line-up from their 2-0 win over Sundowns on April 17: Williams, Nhlapo, Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera, Furman, Mokoena (Webber 76′), Modiba (Khumalo 90′), Lebese (Lungu 65′), Macuphu, Grobler.