MTN8: Sundowns look to avoid Polokwane upset

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Aug 09, 2024. 15:00

Mamelodi Sundowns will face off with Polokwane City in an MTN8 quarter-final encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 15:00 pm CAT.

Sundowns are coming into this match as clear favourites to progress to the semi-finals, but they are winless in their last three competitive matches – recording two successive defeats and one draw.

Masandawana reached last year’s MTN8 final where they lost to Orlando Pirates on penalties and they are now looking to go all the way, and clinch the Top 8 trophy for the fifth time in the club’s history.

“Coming to our game against Polokwane City, I think it’s going to be a tough one. It is a big deal for teams like Polokwane City to be in the Top 8,” Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi said.

“That says a lot about our league now. It says there is a lot of competition. A team that had just come from the NFD is now in the PSL and had a very good first round of the season.

“I also believe that their coach [Phuti Mohafe] is an excellent young coach. We have played against him several times, so I know what he can do. It’s going to be interesting because this is a competition that has always been difficult for us.”

Meanwhile, Polokwane are the underdogs, but they will be confident of extending their unbeaten run to six matches in competitive matches having recorded two wins and three draws in their five matches.

This will be Rise and Shine’s fifth match in the MTN8 and their best-ever run in the Top 8 competition came in 2019 when they reached the semi-finals where they were eliminated by Highlands Park.

“I think being the underdogs in this fixture is good because it takes pressure off us a bit. We’ve done well to achieve playing in this prestigious competition,” Polokwane midfielder Cole Alexander said.

“I am sure the whole country thinks it will be a walk in the park for Sundowns, so we can use that as motivation to surprise the country.

“We must play from that place where people are thinking we are the underdogs and that’s where we can give our all. Our identity is giving everything on the field.”

Head-to-head (since 2013/14)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2016/17 Telkom KO, Last 16 Sundowns 2-0 Polokwane H. Kekana, Zwane

2020/21 Nedbank Cup, Last 16 Sundowns 4-0 Polokwane Shalulile, Maboe, Kapinga, Jali (pen)

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 2 2 0 0 6 0

Polokwane 2 0 0 2 0 6

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Tau, Billiat

2016/17 Sundowns 0-0 Polokwane

2017/18 Sundowns 1-2 Polokwane Lebese (pen); Ramagalela 2

2017/18 Polokwane 3-2 Sundowns Seabi, Musona, Ramagalela; Lebese, Manyisa

2018/19 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Nascimento, Maboe

2018/19 Sundowns 1-1 Polokwane Zwane; Onyango (og)

2019/20 Sundowns 1-0 Polokwane Vilakazi

2019/20 Polokwane 0-3 Sundowns Ngcongca, Zwane, Makgalwa

2023/24 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Costa 2 (1 pen)

2023/24 Sundowns 0-0 Polokwane

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 18 11 4 3 32 8

Polokwane 18 3 4 11 8 32