Sundowns looking to avenge May defeat to Citizens

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi wants to see more creativity from his team when they host Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Bafana ba Style saw their 100 per cent record in the Betway Premiership this season come to an end after slipping to a 1-0 defeat against Polokwane City on 27 October

It was only the Brazilians' third loss in 60 league games and saw them knocked off the summit by Orlando Pirates, who beat AmaZulu 2-1 on 25 October to go three points clear in pole position.

Sundowns created very little against Rise And Shine and didn't even manage a single shot on target, which Mngqithi admits is a cause for concern.

The Citizens also struggled in the final third against Magesi as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Athlone Stadium on 27 October.

Eric Tinkler's side created a few chances, but they weren't clinical enough in front of goal, with Heaven Sereetsi coming closest when he rattled the crossbar with a strike from range on 52 minutes.

City are now unbeaten in their last two outings after picking up their first win of the season against SuperSport United (1-0) on 28 September, although they are languishing down in 12th place, two points shy of the top eight with two games in hand on Matsatsantsa (8th).

The Mother City outfit had dashed Masandawana's hopes of going through an entire league campaign undefeated after running out 1-0 victors in Pretoria on the final day of last term.

WHAT WAS SAID

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi

"I was not impressed with the speed of play. I was not impressed with our chance creation and our decision-making in the final third.

"It is an area that we must work hard on to try to get ourselves back because we thought we had improved tremendously in that regard.

"And this is the team that played against [Golden] Arrows just the other day and scored five goals and if today they struggle even to have a shot on target, then we should be worried."

Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler

"You need to take certain risks; you need certain creativity. I thought we had the risk, we had the creativity but lacked the finer quality (against Magesi).

"We created one chance that I remember in the first half with [Amadou] Soukouna turning and shooting, and then we had one chance with Heaven in the second that hit the crossbar. That was it.

"In the end, we didn't create enough in the final third, and didn't put the ball in the back of the net. But I don't think it was a case that we played poorly."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mamelodi Sundowns - Iqraam Rayners will be looking to make a greater impact against his former employers after a quiet game in Polokwane.

The 28-year-old striker made a tremendous start to his career at Chloorkop after scoring in each of his first three league appearances to share the lead with Evidence Makgopa and Luca Ribeiro in the scoring charts.

Cape Town City - Heaven Sereetsi caught the eye against Magesi following his introduction at the start of the second half and was a whisker away from opening his account for the season after being denied by the woodwork.

The 21-year-old winger has only made two substitute appearances for City this term and he may have to settle for a place on the bench once more against Sundowns, but could be used as an impact sub. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD (Last Five Betway Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 5

Sundowns wins - 1

CT City wins - 1

Draws - 3