Sundowns look to claim top spot

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to claim top spot in the Absa Premiership when they take on Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT, catch the action live on SuperSport and DStv Now.

Maritzburg suffered their 12th defeat of the league season when they were beaten 1-0 at Kaizer Chiefs on March 9. Yet the KwaZulu-Natal side has taken six points from the last 12 up for grabs.

The Team of Choice has claimed 12 points from 11 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 win at home to provincial rivals AmaZulu in early March.

Sundowns have won just once in their last five league outings and suffered their first away defeat of the season when they were beaten 2-1 at Cape Town City on March 5. Yet they can go three points clear at the top should they win this midweek clash.

The Tshwane side also demonstrated their class with a 3-0 home win over Nigeria’s Lobi Stars last Friday which secured a place in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League.

The Brazilians have claimed 21 points from 10 away matches this season, recording six wins, three draws and just one loss on the road.

In head-to-head stats, Sundowns and Maritzburg have met in 25 league matches since 2005/06. The Brazilians have claimed 16 wins compared to three for the Team of Choice, while six matches have been drawn. The KwaZulu-Natal side has claimed two wins from 12 home matches in the rivalry, suffering seven defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in January, Sundowns claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a second-half strike from Hlompho Kekana. The Brazilians are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches against the Team of Choice.

Previous line-ups

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 1-0 loss to Chiefs on March 9: Ofori, Xulu, Sanoka, Allie, Kunene, Makaringe, Timm, Shandu (Mekoa 57'), Ndlovu, Mokate (Moseamedi 59'), Zakri (Kateregga 70').

Sundowns’ line-up from their 2-1 loss to Cape Town City on March 5: Mweene, Langerman, Ngcongca, Lebusa, Coetzee, Mabunda, Kekana, Zwane, Sirino (Mahlambi 74'), Tade (Jali 86'), Maboe (Laffor 90').

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers
2013/14 Maritzburg 1-1 Sundowns Isaacks; Schut
2014/15 Sundowns 1-1 Maritzburg Mashego; Awal (pen)
2014/15 Maritzburg 1-2 Sundowns Lentjies; Laffor 2
2015/16 Sundowns 3-0 Maritzburg T. Zwane, Langerman, Moriri
2015/16 Maritzburg 2-3 Sundowns Rusike, Onyango; Kekana 2, Billiat
2016/17 Maritzburg 0-0 Sundowns
2016/17 Sundowns 2-2 Maritzburg Zakri 2; Onyango, Rusike
2017/18 Sundowns 1-0 Maritzburg Tau
2017/18 Maritzburg 2-2 Sundowns Fileccia, Maboe; T. Zwane, Langerman
2018/19 Sundowns 1-0 Maritzburg Kekana

What the teams are saying

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane

“We have quality, our league is top quality and we must not have excuses. We don’t have excuses not to represent the country in the Champions League, why do Algerians have two teams in the group stages?” said Mosimane after his side’s win over Lobi Stars last weekend.

“Tunisians have two teams, Egyptians have two, but in South Africa, you only have one…we need to have two and we need to stay longer in the tournament and the CAF Confederation (Cup).”

Maritzburg United coach Eric Tinkler

"The delivery‚ the service‚ just wasn't there‚” said Tinkler after the 1-0 loss to Chiefs. "Right now‚ with the short period that I've been at the club‚ when I look at the away games - like the game against Wits - I thought we performed well.

"We had moments. But we still seemed to play with a certain amount of fear. Like [Bandile] Shandu today. Shandu didn't play to what he's capable of doing at home.

"At home he seems to play with a lot more freedom‚ a lot more confidence in himself. And in that first half he was panicking.”

Maritzburg United key players

Richard Ofori – The Ghanaian goalkeeper is likely to be a busy man against Sundowns’ potent attack, but if he can inspire and organise his defence then an upset could be on the cards for the Team of Choice in this midweek clash.

Yannick Zakri – The Ivorian forward is a former Mamelodi Sundowns player and will be keen to prove a point to his old team. Zakri’s eye for a killer pass or shot on goal will be key to Maritzburg’s hopes of upsetting the Brazilians.

Mamelodi Sundowns key players

Lebohang Maboe – The former Maritzburg United player was in fine form this past weekend, scoring the third and final goal for his team as they thrashed Lobi Stars 3-0 in the Champions League. He’ll hope to continue his scoring spree when ‘Downs visit United.

Hlompho Kekana – A powerful presence in midfield, Kekana will look to stamp his authority on the game against Maritzburg and lay the platform for a win which would send Mamelodi Sundowns back to the top of the standings.