TS Galaxy v Sundowns: what the stats say

The Rockets will lock horns with Masandawana in the Carling Black Knockout last 16 for the first time in history on Wednesday night at Mbombela Stadium.

The two teams have previously met on six occasions in the DStv Premiership over the past three seasons.

Galaxy played their first match in South Africa's top-flight competition during the 2020-21 season where they finished the season in ninth position.

Between the six league matches that have played out between the two sides, The Brazilians have seen victory five times and the hosts only once.

Sundowns have been dominant in their meetings against Galaxy. In the first two seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22) they won back-to-back encounters both home and away.

Masandawana also kept clean sheets against The Rockets in the first two seasons that the clubs played against each other.

Sundowns registered their biggest win of 3-0 on two occasions in one season - 2021-22.

Galaxy’s biggest win came in the form of a 1-0 triumph during their 2022-23 league clash away from home. This was the first league clash between the teams last season and it saw Galaxy end a four game losing run against Sundowns to record their first win against them.

Galaxy saw the back of the net for the first time against The Brazilians in last season’s encounters (2022-23) when they played away to Sundowns - Lifa Hlongwane scored the only goal as they won 1-0 away and then lost 2-1 at home.

The league clash between the sides last season with TS Galaxy as hosts which ended 2-1 in favour of Sundowns, is the only time in six league meetings between the teams that they have both scored in the same game.

This fixture has recorded a total of 13 goals, Downs have scored 11 times and Galaxy twice.

There are seven players from Masandawana’s side that have scored and two from Galaxy (each with one goal) in this fixture.

Peter Shalulile has scored the most goals in this fixture (5) and he’s the only player that has scored against the Rockets in every meeting that Sundowns recorded a victory.

The most goals in a match to be scored stands as three which was in Sundowns' 2-1 away league win last season.

Over the six previous league games between the teams, five clean sheets have been kept. Of these, Sundowns have kept four and Galaxy one.

Head-to-Head: League fixtures

P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD

TS Galaxy 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 11 | -9

Mamelodi Sundowns 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 9

TS Galaxy:

The Rockets have played eight league matches in their current 2023-24 campaign as they sit on position 12 with nine points.

This will be their first participation in this competition, having previously participated in only one other Cup competition - the Nedbank Cup.

Galaxy have played in the Nedbank Cup competition since the 2018-19 season when they won it. They faced off against Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium to clinch a narrow victory of 1-0, the goal was scored by Zakhele Lepasa.

In their journey to victory, they started off with a battle in the first round against Ajax Cape Town at home (5-2) and then Umvoti FC followed in the second round (3-1).

In the round of 16 they met with Jomo Cosmos away from home, and they won the encounter 1-0.

Their quarterfinal encounter was in the form of Cape Umoya United, which they defeated 2-1.

TS Galaxy went on to do battle in the semifinals with Golden Arrows which they brushed aside by 3-1.

In the season that followed (2019-20) Galaxy were unsuccessful in defending their title and reached only the second round of the knockouts. They won the first round against Cape Umoya United at home 1-0 and saw defeat away at Chippa United (3-0).

During their 2020-21 campaign, they were knocked out in the second round for a second time in a row, this time by TS Sporting on penalties at Ellis Park Stadium (4 TS Galaxy - 5 TS Sporting).

It was in the 2021-22 season that Galaxy were able to go above their previous two seasons' showing, reaching the round of 16.

In the 2022-23 season, the Mbombela outfit reached the round of 16 for the second time, unable to advance further after losing out to Stellenbosch 3-6 on their home turf.

Galaxy scored two penalties in their round of 16 encounter against Stellies, Yaimil Medina and Masile Phohlongo scored from the spot, while Kamogelo Sebelebele scored from open play.

Mamelodi Sundowns:

Masandawana have recently competed in the MTN 8 Cup competition where they lost out on penalties in the finals against Orlando Pirates.

Domestically Masandawana have a collective of four MTN 8 trophies, six Nedbank Cups and two Carling Knockout Cups (2015-16 and 2019-20), this is since 1996-97.

In the 2015-16 competition Sundowns faced Kaizer Chiefs in the final that was hosted at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The final score was 3-1, goals were scored by Leonardo Castro, Thabo Nthethe and Hlompho Kekana for Sundowns, while Camaldine Abraw scored for Chiefs.

In the 2019-20 season, Masandawana came from behind to clinch the title again when they met with Maritzburg United, Mauricio Affonso scored a brace on the day and both goals were assisted by Gaston Sirino.

Sundowns have won the last two times that they have reached the Cup final of this competition in 2015 and 2019, they did lose their two finals before that in 2007 and 2012.

The Brazilians have reached the quarterfinals of the knockout challenge on five occasions - 2009-10; 2010-11; 2013-14; 2016-17 and 2018-19.

It’s on two occasions that Sundowns’ journey ended in the round of 16, this was during the 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons.

2011/12 they lost 3-0 to Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium and in the 2017-18 season they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Chippa United at Sisa Dukashe Stadium.

In their 2012-13 season, Sundowns reached the finals of the competition but were unsuccessful in their quest, they lost 1-0 to Bloemfontein Celtic.

The 2014/15 season witnessed Masandawana reach the semifinals of the Carling Knockout but were sent out by Platinum Stars when the two teams clashed at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

This is Sundowns' 24th participation in this competition in the PSL Era. Their record in this round reads P23 W17 L6. (Wins and Losses include triumphs and losses on penalties).

In 2019-20, the last time Sundowns won this trophy, they began with a 5-0 win over AmaZulu, thereafter they won 4-3 on penalties in the quarterfinal against Chippa United after the game ended 2-2. They defeated Golden Arrows 2-1 in the Semifinals and Maritzburg United by the same scoreline in the final.

In the 2019-20 tournament Sundowns played only one game at home which was their round of 16 game against AmaZulu, they played their next two games away and the final on neutral territory.

Knockout Cup Record Since 1996-97:

97/98 Runners Up

98/99 Runners Up

99/00 Champions

00/01 Round of 16

01/02 Semifinals

02/03 Round of 16

03/04 Round of 16

04/05 Quarterfinals

05/06 Quarterfinals

06/07 Semifinals

07/08: Runners Up