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Wounded SuperSport take aim at unbeaten Sundowns

football23 November 2021 15:45| © Backpage TXT
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Peter Shalulile © Gallo Images

Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United will renew their Tshwane derby rivalry with a 2021/22 DStv Premiership clash at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 5:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2), live on SuperSport and Showmax Pro.


* Get DStv or Showmax Pro to watch all the action live.

Sundowns dropped points for just the second time this season when they were held 0-0 at Cape Town City on 20 November, though they remain unbeaten and have yet to concede a league goal in 2021/22.

The Brazilians have a perfect home record this season – five wins from as many matches – with their last outing as hosts ending in a 1-0 triumph over Maritzburg United earlier this month.

"I expect that it's going to be a direct performance from them (SuperSport) in terms of long balls and playing on the second ball," said Sundowns midfielder, Haashim Domingo, ahead of the midweek clash.

"So I think we need to stay very tight, pick up the second ball and establish play from there. Their midfield will be key, with (Teboho) Mokoena, (Sipho) Mbule - the creative players. And also (Thamsanqa) Gabuza and (Bradley) Grobler upfront. That aerial presence will be key for them.

"We know what they bring to the party. We need to come up with solutions and that is what we are working towards," he added.

SuperSport suffered a third defeat from their last four matches when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Marumo Gallants on 20 November – despite taking an early lead through Thamsanqa Gabuza, who scored for the third league game in a row.

Matsatsantsa have claimed six points from five away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 2-1 loss at Royal AM in early November.

"Obviously we're coming off a very disappointing result (versus Gallants) – a defeat at home. We were disappointed with the whole outcome of the game. We didn't apply ourselves like we know we can," said SuperSport captain, Ronwen Williams.

"The performance, the effort wasn't there and we got what we rightfully deserved, which was a defeat. We have a lot of things we need to fix. We have worked hard and we have analysed it and we know the effort wasn't good and we need to fix it otherwise we will get smashed in our next game.

"Coming up against Sundowns, they are obviously the champions, they have been doing well throughout the season. They haven't conceded which shows the work they have been putting in on the training grounds," he added.

In head-to-head terms, United and Sundowns have clashed in 60 league matches since 1990.

The Brazilians have dominated the rivalry, claiming 32 wins compared to 15 for Matsatsantsa, while 13 games have been drawn.

The team in yellow and blue have recorded 14 wins from 30 home matches in the rivalry, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

Sundowns took four points off SuperSport in the teams’ league meetings last season, with a 0-0 draw at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in January 2021, before a 3-1 home win at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in May 2021, with goals from Lebohang Maboe, Aubrey Modiba and Themba Zwane.

PLAYERS TO WATCH - Mamelodi Sundowns

Denis Onyango: Sundowns have yet to concede a single goal this season after 10 matches. Onyango started in goal in seven of those games and is becoming more difficult to beat by each passing week it seems. At 36, the Ugandan shot-stopper is still at the top of his game and will be eager to help preserve the Brazilians' unbelievable record with another shut out.

Peter Shalulile: The league's leading marksman with eight goals, Shalulile has been key to Sundowns' record-breaking start to the season. Of all the teams he has played against in South Africa, the Namibia international has struggled most against Chippa United and SuperSport; against whom he has only scored once in eight and seven matches respectively. He will be eager to improve on that record with a goal in midweek.

PLAYERS TO WATCH - SuperSport United

Teboho Mokoena: SuperSport will be counting on the midfield star to help them bounce back to winning ways. Mokoena will have his work cut out for him against an in-form Sundowns team who will be hot favourites going into the match. He usually steps up on the big occasions and Matsatsantsa will be relying on him to put in a big shift in the middle of the park.

Thamsanqa Gabuza: The towering forward is a man in form in front of goal. Gabuza has scored in three successive matches heading into Wednesday's fixture and has netted six times in nine league starts this season. He will be aiming to become the first man to breach Sundowns' defence in the current campaign.

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