Sundowns out to end Chiefs' MTN8 dream

Mamelodi Sundowns will go head to head with Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 semifinal, second-leg encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is 3pm CAT

Sundowns are the favourites to progress to the final of this lucrative tournament and they are leading on the away goals rule with the first-leg clash having ended in a 1-1 draw on September 2 - Khuliso Mudau cancelling Edson Castillo's opening goal.

Since then Masandawana have won two matches in a row - an emphatic 4-0 victory over Burundi's Bumamuru in the Caf Champions League was followed by a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates as coach Rhulani Mokwena's side maintained their unbeaten record in the current season.

Chiefs, on the other hand, can take pride in the fact that they were the first team to hold a red-hot Sundowns side this season and they will now be looking to humble the reigning DStv Premiership champions and progress to the final in a bid to end their eight-year trophy drought. 

Amakhosi are coming into this highly anticipated encounter winless in their last three matches across all competitions as their draw against Sundowns was followed by a goalless stalemate against Royal AM and a 1-0 loss to SuperSport United,

This will be the 30th cup meeting between Sundowns and Chiefs since 1985 with the latter having dominated in this rivalry.

Amakhosi have registered 12 wins compared to Masandawana's six victories while 11 matches ended in a draw.  

Masandawana are undefeated in their last four cup matches against Amakhosi - winning the four encounters.

What they said...

“It's going to be a very difficult game because contrary to what the results suggest, we play against a very good side and a very improved Kaizer Chiefs team,” Mokwena said.

“I watched their Royal AM game and I watched their game against SuperSport last night... I saw a completely different side to the side that played against us at FNB. They are a good side and they’ve got some good players. They’ve improved, and they create quite a lot more chances.

“On average now, as compared to last season, it is 11 chances per game. Their Xg [expected goals] has improved slightly in the last nine games that they've played this season to just around one big chance, even though against us they had zero, per game."

“We are going in (to the match) very courageous, knowing very well that the only results that will serve or help us in our objective is to give a good performance and win this game,” Ntseki said.

“We are working on something that will ultimately work for Kaizer Chiefs. In the last two matches, the chances we created, the ball possession and the confidence that we have built – this will be our approach to the game.

“We are fully aware that they are a quality side, as much as we are also a quality side. It will be a highly tactical game. We are looking forward to it, and we have hope and believe that this is a time for us to do it.”

Players who played for both teams

Keagan Dolly could feature in Saturday's clash having resumed full training with his Chiefs teammates earlier this month after recovering from an injury.

The Bafana Bafana international is the only former Sundowns player in the current Amakhosi squad, but the attacker is yet to play for the Soweto giants under Ntseki.

Reyaad Pieterse, on the other hand, is the only former Chiefs player in the current Masandawana squad and he currently serves as the club's third-choice goalkeeper. 

George Maluleka is the last player to win major trophies with both Sundowns and Chiefs and he is now on the books of AmaZulu FC.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kaizer Chiefs
Edson Castillo: The Venezuelan star has proved to be an influential midfielder who is able to score important goals having found the back of the net twice in the MTN8.

Castillo will be looking to stamp his authority in the middle of the park while also playing an instrumental role in helping the Glamour Boys secure a victory over the Brazilians.

Mamelodi Sundowns

Lucas Ribeiro Costa: The in-form attacker has impressively found the back of the net five times in his last four competitive matches for the Tshwane giants.

Costa has one assist in the MTN8 but he is yet to score in the competition and he will be determined to change this when he faces Amakhosi, and also help his side progress to the final.