Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns will look to celebrate their title triumph with another win when they host Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on the final day of the 2020-21 season this Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
Sundowns have claimed 29 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 3-1 win over Tshwane rivals SuperSport United last month – a victory which sealed the title.
Sundowns go into this weekend having only lost once all season, while they will end the campaign unbeaten away from home – a first in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era.
“The loss to Chiefs is still painful to me‚” said Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi, who feels his side could’ve done even better this season.
“There were too many draws and I am not happy with that, to be honest.
“I think we should have done better in the many matches that we ended up drawing. At times you are coming from a lead to draw a match‚ and that is never really good.
“That’s a good record [going the season unbeaten away from home] but it could have been better‚ I think we could have done even better at home,” Mngqithi added.
City returned to winning form – and guaranteed a top-eight finish – when they defeated Black Leopards 3-1 at home on Wednesday 2 June, with goals from Fagrie Lakay and Abdul Ajagun (two).
The Citizens have claimed 18 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 0-0 draw at Bloemfontein Celtic last month.
“I think getting the three goals is well deserved, possibly we could’ve got a fourth or fifth. I think it was a deserved result and yes, happy with the start,” said City head coach Eric Tinkler after his first game back at the Cape club.
“I am extremely excited to be back at Cape Town City,” he said following his appointment last month. “I had a very successful season in 2016 with City. A lot of fond memories and to come back here and hopefully replicate what we achieved back in 2016 and improve on that will be the main target.
“I have come here because I want to win things and to achieve things. I think Cape Town City has all the elements to achieve that.”
In head-to-head stats, City and Sundowns have met in nine league matches since the 2016-17 season. The Citizens have claimed five wins compared to three for the Brazilians, while just one game has been drawn. The Tshwane side has recorded one win, one draw and two defeats from four home matches in the rivalry.
Meanwhile TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs will fight it out for a place in the 2020-21 DStv Premiership’s top eight when they meet at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Galaxy have claimed 20 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates late last month.
“Well, I feel like the team has definitely made great strides. Yes, we have the opportunity to end in the top eight which is great,” said Galaxy head coach Owen Da Gama.
“This is TS galaxy’s first season in the DStv Premiership so that would be an ideal achievement especially for me and the technical team members after having taken over the team which was in the relegation zone after 10 games, and plagued with injuries.
“To finish in the top eight would be a reflection of what we are building and a positive projection for the future of the team,” he added.
Chiefs kept up their hopes of ending in the top eight when they came from behind to defeat Golden Arrows 2-1 at home on Wednesday 2 June, with a hat-trick from Lebogang Manyama. They must win in Nelspruit to move up from their current slot of ninth.
Amakhosi have claimed 17 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 2-1 loss at Black Leopards late last month.
“Look, we come from a situation where our energy levels were very low following the loss to Black Leopards. We had to lift the spirit in the camp and prepare for Golden Arrows knowing very well that they are a very good team,” said Chiefs interim head coach Arthur Zwane.
“TS Galaxy also have similar players to Arrows, they often play off the second ball. They are hard runners as well, but it remains to be seen if the approach will be the same. They are currently in the top eight, but if they lose we will take their position so I think they will come into this game very cautious.
“They will want to secure a point, at the same time trying by all means to secure all three. I think between the two teams, we will go all out because we need to win, we will take the game to them. We are prepared to be vulnerable at the back, we are going to come out guns blazing,” he added.
In head-to-head stats, Galaxy and Chiefs have met in just one previous top-flight league match. That encounter took place earlier this season, at FNB Stadium in November 2020, and ended in a goalless stalemate.
Elsewhere Black Leopards will look to go out of the DStv Premiership on a high when they host Bloemfontein Celtic on the final day of the 2020/21 season at the Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo, Chippa United will battle with SuperSport United in the DStv Premiership match at the Nelson Mandela Bay and Golden Arrows will aim for a third-place finish in the 2020-21 DStv Premiership season when they host a Stellenbosch FC side aiming to secure their top-flight status at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont on Saturday.