Highlands, SuperSport battle for MTN8 glory

Teboho Mokoena of Supersport United celebrates goal with teammates during the MTN8 2019 Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville on the 18 September 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Oct 03, 2019. 15:00

Highlands Park and SuperSport United will battle for MTN8 glory when they meet in the final at Orlando Stadium on Saturday 5 October 2019, kick-off at 18h00.

Highlands’ path to the final has seen them overcome Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the quarterfinals, before they edged past Polokwane City in the semifinals. The teams drew 0-0 over two legs, before Owen Da Gama’s team won on penalties.

The Lions of the North are in their MTN8 debut (in the PSL era), and earned their place in the competition by finishing a creditable seventh in last season’s Absa Premiership.

Highlands come into the match on the back of an impressive 2-0 win over high-flying Polokwane City in the Absa Premiership this past weekend, with goals from Mothobi Mvala and Peter Shalulile taking them to victory at Makhulong Stadium.

SuperSport, meanwhile, are appearing in the final for a third successive year. They defeated Bidvest Wits 3-0 in the quarterfinals, before ousting Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 on aggregate in the semis.

Matsatsantsa have won the MTN8 twice and were champions as recently as 2017. Last year they were beaten 4-1 on penalties by Cape Town City in the final (after the teams drew 1-1 after extra time).

SuperSport also come into the final on the back of a league victory, having overcome AmaZulu 1-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium last Saturday night. Aubrey Modiba’s first-half penalty secured the three points for the Tshwane side.

In head-to-head stats, Highlands and SuperSport will be meeting in their first major cup clash. The teams have crossed swords in just four league matches, with Matsatsantsa claiming two wins compared to one for the Lions of the North.

Highlands and SuperSport have yet to meet this season, with their most recent clash on the final day of the 2018/19 league campaign back in May. That match in Tshwane ended in a 2-0 win for the Lions of the North, thanks to second-half goals from Peter Shalulile and Lindokuhle Mbatha.