Sundowns, Polokwane to tussle for MTN8 semifinal spot

Mamelodi Sundowns will tussle it out with Polokwane City in Sunday's MTN8 quarterfinal encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Sundowns are coming into this match as clear favourites to progress to the semifinals, but they are winless in their last three competitive matches - recording two successive defeats and one draw.

Masandawana reached last year's MTN8 final where they lost to Orlando Pirates on penalties and they are now looking to go all the way, and clinch the top-eight trophy for the fifth time in the club's history.

Meanwhile, Polokwane are the underdogs, but they will be confident of extending their unbeaten run to six matches in competitive matches having recorded two wins and three draws in their five matches.

This will be Rise and Shine's fifth match in the MTN8 and their best-ever run in the top-eight competition came in 2019 when they reached the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Highlands Park.

TEAM NEWS

Thembinkosi Lorch, Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Ronwen Williams were excluded from the Sundowns squad that travelled to Austria for a pre-season camp due to injury, and they could miss the cup match.

Polokwane, on the other hand, have so far managed to retain the services of two of their key players, Oswin Appollis and Thabang Matuludi who have been linked with top African clubs.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi

“Coming to our game against Polokwane City, I think it’s going to be a tough one. It is a big deal for teams like Polokwane City to be in the top eight,” Mngqithi said.

“That says a lot about our league now. It says there is a lot of competition. A team that had just come from the NFD is now in the PSL and had a very good first round of the season.

“I also believe that their coach [Phuti Mohafe] is an excellent young coach. We have played against him several times, so I know what he can do. It’s going to be interesting because this is a competition that has always been difficult for us.”

Polokwane City midfielder Cole Alexander

“I think being the underdogs in this fixture is good because it takes pressure off us a bit. We've done well to achieve playing in this prestigious competition," Alexander said.

"I am sure the whole country thinks it will be a walk in the park for Sundowns, so we can use that as motivation to surprise the country.

“We must play from that place where people are thinking we are the underdogs and that's where we can give our all. Our identity is giving everything on the field.''

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Themba Zwane, Mamelodi Sundowns: The 35-year-old remains one of Masandawana's most influential players having scored in the Nedbank Cup final in May against Orlando Pirates and he will be keen to inspire his side to the MTN8 semifinals.

Oswin Appollis, Polokwane City: The gifted attacker is the reason why Rise and Shine are in the MTN8 having grabbed the most goals (six) and assists (three) in the league for the team last season, and he could be the player to fire the Limpopo side into the last four.

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2016/17 Telkom KO, Last 16 Sundowns 2-0 Polokwane H. Kekana, Zwane

2020/21 Nedbank Cup, Last 16 Sundowns 4-0 Polokwane Shalulile, Maboe, Kapinga, Jali (pen)

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 2 2 0 0 6 0

Polokwane 2 0 0 2 0 6

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Tau, Billiat

2016/17 Sundowns 0-0 Polokwane

2017/18 Sundowns 1-2 Polokwane Lebese (pen); Ramagalela 2

2017/18 Polokwane 3-2 Sundowns Seabi, Musona, Ramagalela; Lebese, Manyisa

2018/19 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Nascimento, Maboe

2018/19 Sundowns 1-1 Polokwane Zwane; Onyango (og)

2019/20 Sundowns 1-0 Polokwane Vilakazi

2019/20 Polokwane 0-3 Sundowns Ngcongca, Zwane, Makgalwa

2023/24 Polokwane 0-2 Sundowns Costa 2 (1 pen)

2023/24 Sundowns 0-0 Polokwane

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 18 11 4 3 32 8

Polokwane 18 3 4 11 8 32