Sundowns take mixed record into TKO semifinals

Mamelodi Sundowns will take a mixed record in Telkom Knockout semifinals into their 2019 clash with Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday.

The Brazilians will be making a sixth appearance in the semifinals of the competition since it took on its current guise in 2006, and have three wins and two defeats in the previous five.

They made the Last 4 in the inaugural season of the competition in 2006/07, but lost 5-3 on penalties to Ajax Cape Town despite Jose Torrealba putting them ahead. Terror Fanteni equalised for the Urban Warriors and they went onto win the shoot-out.

Sundowns were back at the same stage the following year and this time were victorious as they beat Free State Stars 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Apataki and Peter Ndlovu.

They did, however, lose the final on penalties to Kaizer Chiefs after a 0-0 draw.

After a barren run of early exits, the team returned to the semis in 2012 and ousted SuperSport United from the competition as Eleazar Rodgers was on target in a 1-0 win.

Again, however, they lost the final 1-0, going down to Clinton Larsen’s Bloemfontein Celtic.

They were back in the semifinals two years later, but this time lost 1-0 to Platinum Stars as, ironically, Rodgers got the decisive goal for Dikwena, who went on to lose the final to SuperSport.

The following year they were back and a comprehensive 3-1 victory over SuperSport United, thanks to goals from Leonardo Castro, Thabo Nthethe and Bongani Zungu, set up a final meeting with Kaizer Chiefs.

They claimed the decider 3-1 with Castro, Nthethe and Hlompho Kekana on target.

That was the last time they reached this stage of the competition.