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Sundowns look to complete AmaZulu double

cricket10 March 2025 08:00| © Backpage TXT
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Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to complete a Betway Premiership 'double' over AmaZulu FC when the two teams meet at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Masandawana are undefeated in their last six matches across all competitions, having drawn 1-1 with Golden Arrows away in a league game on 5 March, when their five-match winning streak came to an end.

Sundowns are sitting pretty at the top of the Betway Premiership standings - 16 points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have four games in hand, as the two Gauteng giants battle for the championship.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu stretched their unbeaten run to three matches across all competitions when they drew 0-0 with SuperSport United away in a league clash on 5 March, and before that, they had won two games in a row.

Usuthu are placed sixth in the Betway Premiership standings - a point behind third-placed Stellenbosch FC, and a win over Sundowns would see the KwaZulu-Natal giants climb into the top three if other results go their way.

TEAM NEWS

Rivaldo Coetzee, Themba Zwane, Siyabonga Mabena, Mothobi Mvala and Ronwen Williams are all on Mamelodi Sundowns' injury list, while Terrence Mashego and Neo Maema are on Bafana Bafana duty.

AmaZulu, on the other hand, will welcome back Riaan Hanamub and Richard Ofori from suspension, but Augustine Mulenga is yet to be cleared to return to competitive football.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso

“I think it will be important that VAR [video assistant referee] be put on here in South Africa, it will help the referees when they make mistakes," Cardoso said.

"They are human beings, and normally, it can happen. When there are too many mistakes in one match, then it is not comfortable.

“In a normal game [against Golden Arrows], we should have won, and that has cost us two points that can be important in the championship fight. It can be important for the morale of the team.”

AmaZulu FC head coach Arthur Zwane

“We had to rest Bongani (Zungu) for the next game because he’s our heartbeat, he’s a thinker,” Zwane said.

“He’s the one that controls everything at the moment. And the other guys – [Ethan] Brooks, [Rowan] Human, they play with energy because they are still young.

“You can’t expect them to play like Bongani, you know, Bongani is the one who controls everything, the rhythm in our game.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iqraam Rayners, Mamelodi Sundowns: The lethal forward, who has four assists in each of his last four matches, scored Sundowns' winning goal the last time they faced AmaZulu, which was in December in a league clash.

Tshepang Moremi, AmaZulu FC: The explosive winger, who found the back of the net and grabbed two assists as AmaZulu secured victories over Magesi FC, and Cape Town City, is Usuthu's dangerman.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019-20 AmaZulu 0-3 Sundowns Vilakazi, Zwane 2 (1 pen)

2020-21 Sundowns 4-3 AmaZulu Zwane 3, Shalulile; Majoro, Memela, Khumalo

2020-21 AmaZulu 0-0 Sundowns

2021-22 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Zwane (pen)

2021-22 AmaZulu 1-0 Sundowns Mulenga

2022-23 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Allende

2022-23 AmaZulu 2-2 Sundowns Mphalele, Dion; Zungu, Shalulile

2023-24 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Ribeiro (pen)

2023-24 Sundowns 3-0 AmaZulu Ribeiro 3

2024-25 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Rayners

 

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 33 21 6 6 68 29

AmaZulu 35 3 9 23 19 57

Away

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 35 23 9 3 57 19

AmaZulu 33 6 6 21 29 68

Total

P W D L GF GA

Sundowns 68 44 15 9 125 48

AmaZulu 68 9 15 44 48 125

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