Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 loss to Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal last Sunday was a shock to many, but in reality it is just a continuation of recent history.
Sundowns have not won any of their last 11 semifinal first legs in the competition since a 2-1 home win over SuperSport United in 2008 and they have progressed from only four of their 11 semifinals to the final over the past 18 years.
A bad omen for the return leg against Arrows in Umlazi on Sunday is that on each of the three occasions when they lost the first leg, they have not managed to claw it back and reach the final.
They lost 3-2 away to Orlando Pirates in 2011 and then drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture to lose 4-3 on aggregate.
They lost 1-0 away to Cape Town City in 2018 and, although they won the home leg by the same scoreline, were beaten on penalties.
And they lost 1-0 at home to Stellenbosch two years ago and then by the same scoreline away to lose 2-0 on aggregate.
Perhaps most shockingly, they have never won an away leg of a MTN8 semifinal, something they will have to do on Sunday if they are to reach the final.
And that is against a Golden Arrows side that has not conceded in eight games.
All five of their semifinal leg wins have been at home, one in the first leg and four in the second.
Keeping a clean sheet may be crucial this coming weekend, but they have managed that in only five of their 23 semifinal matches since 2008 and none of the last eight since a 0-0 first-leg home draw with Pirates in 2022.
Pirates have been their tormentors at this stage – in three previous semifinal ties against the Soweto giants, Sundowns have lost all of them.
They faced Golden Arrows in 2021 and drew the first leg 1-1 away before a handsome 3-0 home win saw them advance and defeat Cape Town City in the final.
That remains their only MTN8 triumph since 2008.