Sundowns out to relegate Maritzburg

football16 May 2023 09:34| © Backpage TXT

Mamelodi Sundowns © Backpagepix

Mamelodi Sundowns will be out to end a successful DStv Premiership campaign with a win when they host Maritzburg United at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

FORM

Masandawana held Morocco's Wydad Casablanca to a 0-0 draw in Saturday's Caf Champions League clash and the stalemate extended the Tshwane giants' unbeaten run to six games across all competitions.

Sundowns have already been crowned 2022-23 DStv Premiership champions and a win over Maritzburg would see coach Rhulani Mokwena's side set a new record of 72 points for a 30-match PSL season.

Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Maritzburg emerged as 1-0 winners over Stellenbosch FC in Saturday's DStv Premiership match as they snapped their four-match winless run in the local top-flight.

Sundowns bring the curtain down on another brilliant season in the #DStvPrem tonight.

We look at some of the records they could equal or break ??
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 16, 2023

The Team of Choice are placed 16th in the league standings - three points behind 13th-placed Richards Bay and a win over Sundowns would see the Pietermaritzburg side climb out of the relegation zone while a defeat would relegate Maritzburg to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

TEAM NEWS

Sundowns will be without Aubrey Modiba and Mothobi Mvala as the two defenders are suspended but the club was recently boosted by the return of Cassius Mailula from injury.

Maritzburg, on the other hand, have no suspension worries coming into this must-win match and they are yet to report new injuries in their camp.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise:

“It will be a difficult game, they will go all out because they want to survive relegation.

“But we are ready for them because we want to go to the podium to collect the DStv Premiership trophy after the match with a win.

“We want to ensure that we celebrate with the trophy having won the game. We have to be focused and at the same time respect Maritzburg because we have to win for our supporters.

“They have good players like Karim Kimvuidi, who is dangerous in half spaces, and their striker, Amadou Soukouna, is very dangerous in the box. They also have a guy like Rowan Human, who is comfortable on the ball.”

Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids:

"It's a match where we have to be brave. It's not a game where we have to sit back, it's not a game where we have to play reactive football.

"We have to really be active and aggressive with the ball. We have to score goals; we know that at the moment it's only goals that win matches and we have to go for the three points. We still have hope and belief [that they'll survive].

"It is difficult [to play their last game of the season on a different day] because normally on the last day you don't want to talk about fixing games and these things because it's not proper.

"We trust Golden Arrows to put out their best line-up. We trust Swallows to go for the win to get into the top eight."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mamelodi Sundowns:

Ronwen Williams: The accomplished shot-stopper will be looking to ensure that Sundowns don't lose the game by keeping a clean sheet. Williams has kept a record-breaking 18 clean sheets in the league this season.

Peter Shalulile: The lethal forward is still leading the race for the DStv Premiership Golden Boot award having scored 12 goals from 21 matches and he will be determined to add to his tally when he faces Maritrzburg's leaky defence.

Maritzburg United:

Rowan Human: The 22-year-old playmaker has been one of Maritzburg's key players this term having grabbed his third assist of the season in the win over Stellenbosch and his creativity could be key to a Maritzburg win in Pretoria.

Amadou Soukouna: The former France youth international has scored in back-to-back matches, against Stellenbosch and Marumo Gallants. Soukouna will be confident of continuing his scoring form when he faces Masandawana.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2017/18 Maritzburg 2-2 Sundowns Fileccia, Maboe; T. Zwane, Langerman

2018/19 Sundowns 1-0 Maritzburg Kekana

2018/19 Maritzburg 1-2 Sundowns Makaringe; Tade, Maboe

2019/20 Sundowns 2-1 Maritzburg Sirino, Lakay; Zulu

2019/20 Maritzburg 2-2 Sundowns De Reuck, Kutumela; Kekana, Nascimento (pen)

2020/21 Maritzburg 1-1 Sundowns Mngonyama; Zwane

2020/21 Sundowns 2-0 Maritzburg Nascimento (pen), Motupa

2021/22 Sundowns 1-0 Maritzburg Shalulile

2021/22 Maritzburg 2-1 Sundowns Ndengane, Soukouna (pen); Shalulile