Celtic, Sundowns battle for Nedbank Cup glory

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Sep 12, 2020. 09:00

Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns will bring the 2019-20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season to a close with their meeting in the Nedbank Cup final, set for Saturday 12 September 2020 at the Orlando Stadium, kick-off at 20:00 CAT.

Celtic earned their place in the final by defeating AmaZulu (4-1), Maritzburg United (3-2), TS Sporting (3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw) and Baroka FC (3-0). This is their first FA Cup final appearance since defeating African Wanderers in 1985 to win this competition for the only time in their history.

Sundowns, meanwhile, are four-time winners of the Nedbank Cup, with their most recent triumph arriving in 2015 when they overcame Ajax Cape Town on penalties.

The Brazilians earned their place in the final with victories over SuperSport United (1-0), VUT Students (2-0), Highlands Park (1-0, after extra time) and Bidvest Wits (3-2).

Both teams will be on a high after the league wrapped up last weekend: ‘Downs defeated Black Leopards 3-0 courtesy of a hat-trick from Lebohang Maboe, with the result enough to secure a third straight championship, while a Victor Letsoalo brace inspired Celtic to a 3-1 win over Maritzburg United which sealed a top-eight finish.

In head-to-head terms, Celtic and Sundowns have met in 14 previous cup matches since 1985. The Brazilians have claimed 10 wins compared to three for Phunya Sele Sele. The teams’ most recent cup clash was in the quarterfinals of the MTN8 earlier this season, with ‘Downs winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Themba Zwane, Mosa Lebusa and Keletso Makgalwa.

Yet Celtic will take heart from the fact that the last final between the teams – the Telkom Knockout back in 2012 – famously ended 1-0 in their favour, with a goal from Joel Mogorosi.

Overall, the teams have clashed in 78 matches across all competitions since 1985, with Sundowns picking up 42 wins compared to 16 for Celtic, while 20 games have ended in draws.

The teams’ two league meetings this season both went the way of the Brazilians, who won 2-1 home and away.

Bloemfontein Celtic v Mamelodi Sundowns – Head-to-head

All cup results (since 1985)

Season Cup Result Scorers

1987 Mainstay, 2nd round Celtic 2-1 Sundowns Saila 2; Cheou

1988 JPS, quarterfinal Sundowns 2-1 Celtic Chafunya 2; Saila

1989 Bob Save, qfinal Sundowns 3-1 Celtic Chitja, Legodi, Nakhumwa; Dandize

1993 Coca-Cola, qfinal Sundowns 0-1 Celtic Skosana

1996/97 Coca-Cola, 1st round Celtic 0-1 Sundowns Mudau

1999/00 Rothmans, qf, 1st leg Celtic 2-3 Sundowns Nikane, Matsau; Mnguni 2, Shai

1999/00 Rothmans, qf, 2nd leg Sundowns 3-1 Celtic Mudau, Shai, Amougou; Vries

2007/08 SAA Supa8, qfinal Sundowns 4-1 Celtic Moriri, Mhlongo, Leremi, Ngwenya; Mahlatsi

2011/12 MTN8, quarterfinal Sundowns 1-0 Celtic Khenyeza

2012/13 Telkom KO, final Celtic 1-0 Sundowns Mogorosi

2013/14 Telkom KO, 1st round Celtic 0-4 Sundowns Wome, Mzava (og), Billiat 2

2015/16 MTN8, quarterfinal Sundowns 1-1*Celtic Abdul Razak; Bilankulu

2018/19 Telkom KO, 1st round Sundowns 1-0 Celtic Sirino

2019/20 MTN8, qfinal Sundowns 3-1 Celtic Zwane, Lebusa, Makgalwa; Mabena

*After extra time, Celtic won 4-2 on penalties

Cup competitions

P W D L GF GA

Celtic 14 3 1 10 12 27

Sundowns 14 10 1 3 27 12

Last 10 league results

Season Result Scorers

2015/16 Celtic 0-1 Sundowns Laffor

2015/16 Sundowns 1-3 Celtic Arendse; Lakay, Abdul Razak, Phalane

2016/17 Celtic 0-1 Sundowns T. Zwane

2016/17 Sundowns 0-0 Celtic

2017/18 Sundowns 4-1 Celtic Sekotlong, Mabunda, Tau, T. Zwane; Pfumbidzai

2017/18 Celtic 0-0 Sundowns

2018/19 Celtic 0-0 Sundowns

2018/19 Sundowns 0-0 Celtic

2019/20 Celtic 1-2 Sundowns Motebang (pen); Lebusa, Zwane (pen)

2019/20 Sundowns 2-1 Celtic Vilakazi, Kekana; Mabena

All competitions (since 1985)

P W D L GF GA

Celtic 78 16 20 42 69 101

Sundowns 78 42 20 16 101 69