AmaZulu, Galaxy to tussle for CKO final spot

AmaZulu FC will battle it out with TS Galaxy in Sunday's Carling Knockout semifinal encounter which is scheduled to take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Usuthu are coming into this cup match wounded after they saw their five-match unbeaten run across all competitions come to an end when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in a DStv Premiership match on November 25.

AmaZulu are making their first appearance in the League Cup semifinals since 2010 when they lost to eventual winners Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout. Usuthu, who won this tournament as the Coca Cola Cup in 1992, are determined to reach the League Cup final for the second time.

Meanwhile, Galaxy have been inconsistent in their last six matches across all competitions, but they bounced back to winning ways in their most recent game as they claimed an emphatic 3-0 win over Polokwane City in a DStv Premiership match on November 26.

The Rockets are making their debut appearance in the League Cup with the club having been established in 2018. However, the Mpumalanga side has won a major trophy as they clinched the 2019 Nedbank Cup and they are now eyeing their second appearance in a major cup final.

TEAM NEWS

AmaZulu are likely to be without defenders Taariq Fielies, Veluyeke Zulu and Thembela Sikhakhane who have been out nursing their respective injuries.

Galaxy, on the other hand, will be missing the services of the injured Bernard Parker and the suspended Mlungisi Mbunjana.

WHAT WAS SAID?

AmaZulu right-back-come-right-winger Wayde Jooste

"We can't look past the semifinals without playing Galaxy. “We can learn from the previous season [where AmaZulu lost 1-0 to Pirates in the final of the MTN8]," Jooste said.

“I don't think our next game against Galaxy will be the same as the previous ones.

"They've been watching us these past few weeks, knowing for a while now they're playing us in the semifinal. They know us and we'll be prepared for them too.”

TS Galaxy striker Samir Nurkovic

"I'm really happy to be back on the field again after such a long time. I'm enjoying every single moment and I'm working hard to get back to where I was before," Nurkovic said.

"It is always a good feeling and an amazing feeling that you are still in the running to win some silverware [Carling Knockout].

"All we need to do is to focus [on the game against AmaZulu] and do what the coach is asking from us and everything else is in God's hands."

AmaZulu: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Augustine Chidi Kwem: The Nigerian marksman recently grabbed an impressive second-half hat-trick in a league win over Golden Arrows and he will be confident of finding the back of the net against his former club, Galaxy.

Junior Sere Dion: The Ivorian frontman was the hero during the Carling Knockout quarterfinals as his hat-trick inspired AmaZulu's win over Arrows. Dion's performance could be key to Usuthu's victory over the Rockets.

TS Galaxy: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fiacre Ntwari: Rwanda's first-choice goalkeeper was outstanding in the Carling Knockout quarterfinals as Galaxy eliminated Sekhukhune United on penalties. Ntwari will be eager to inspire his side to another cup victory.

Higor Vidal: The Brazilian playmaker has become an influential player for Galaxy having been named Man of the Match after grabbing two assists against Polokwane and he will be eager to replicate the same form in Durban.

Head-to-Head (since 2020/21)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of AmaZulu and TS Galaxy.

CUP RECORD

N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of AmaZulu and TS Galaxy.

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2020/21 Galaxy 1-0 AmaZulu Lekay

2020/21 AmaZulu 2-1 Galaxy Majoro 2; Mbatha (pen)

2021/22 Galaxy 0-1 AmaZulu Memela

2021/22 AmaZulu 0-0 Galaxy

2022/23 Galaxy 0-0 AmaZulu

2022/23 AmaZulu 1-2 Galaxy Dion; Traore 2 (1 pen)

2023/24 AmaZulu 1-0 Galaxy Kwem

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA

AmaZulu 7 3 2 2 5 4

Galaxy 7 2 2 3 4 5