Sundowns look to widen gap with Richards Bay win

Mamelodi Sundowns will battle it out with Richards Bay in a DStv Premiership match scheduled to take place at the Loftus Verseld Stadium on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Masandawana stretched their unbeaten run to 16 matches across all competitions when they drew 0-0 with Tanzania's Young Africans in a CAF Champions League match away on Saturday.

Sundowns are sitting pretty at the top of the DStv Premiership standings - 11 points clear of second-placed Stellenbosch FC and a win over Richards Bay would see Masandawana take a step towards another league title triumph.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay extended their winless run to five matches across all competitions when they lost 2-1 to Lamontville Golden Arrows away in a league clash on Saturday.

The Natal Rich Boys are still in the relegation play-off spot (15th) in the DStv Premiership standings - nine points behind 14th-placed Chippa United and a victory over Sundowns would ease Richards Bay's relegation fears.

TEAM NEWS

Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Siyanda Nyanga missed Sundowns' match against Young Africans due to injury while the suspended Bongani Zungu picked up an injury during the game.

Sundowns captain Themba Zwane is expected to return to action against Richards Bay after missing the game against Young Africans due to suspension.

Richards Bay are yet to report injuries in their camp, but Langelihle Mhlongo, Abel Mabaso, Tercious Malepe and Tshepo Mabua are all one yellow card away from suspension.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena

“Of course, I will see Sundowns in the next round, I am very confident about that, in fact. What’s the plan?" Mokwena said.

"The plan is to get home safely now, rest, drink lots of water, sleep, analyse the game and then prepare for Richards Bay. We have a very important league game on Tuesday so that’s the plan for now.

“He [Zwane] is the captain of the team and he’s an important part of the team. Of course, we missed him a little bit today but everyone tried. I’m happy with the commitment and the effort of the team, especially in the second half."

Richards Bay coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi

"Yes, but being worried won't help our situation, we need to change the environment, I can't come with a negative energy to the players because it will be transformed to them," Vilakazi said.

"So, I must always stay positive and encourage them to do better in our next game [against Sundowns], that's my job and unfortunately, there's nothing I can do.

"So, I can't sympathise with the players because we lost, we need to soldier on, they must chin up. I'm going to tell them to chin up, take responsibility and try to save the club."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Sundowns: The current DStv Premiership top scorer, who grabbed an assist in Masandawana's 1-0 win over Richards Bay in the first round last August, will be looking to inspire his side to another victory over the Natal Rich Boys.

Somila Ntsundwana, Richards Bay: The towering centre forward grabbed a morale-boosting goal in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby clash against Arrows and he will be confident of propelling his side to a much-needed victory over the champions.

Head-to-Head

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2022/23 Bay 0-2 Sundowns Mailula, Domingo

2022/23 Sundowns 1-0 Bay Morena

2023/24 Bay 0-1 Sundowns Mendieta

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2022/23)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 1 1 0 0 1 0

Bay 2 0 0 2 0 3

Away

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 2 2 0 0 3 0

Bay 1 0 0 1 0 1

Total

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 3 3 0 0 4 0

Bay 3 0 0 3 0 4