Stakes will be high for last eight standing
The Telkom Knockout returns to the domestic agenda this weekend with the quarterfinals set to be staged‚ three of them in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Baroka FC host Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Orlando Pirates travel to AmaZulu‚ Maritzburg United entertain holders Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs welcome SuperSport United in the four clashes.
TimesLIVE picks out 10 talking points from the four games as the Soweto giants in particular seek some long overdue silverware. Unbeaten …
Mamelodi Sundowns have never lost to Baroka FC‚ with the closest that the Limpopo
side have come to a victory being a 2-2 draw in their maiden season the Absa Premiership in 2016-17. Goal-shy
Mamelodi Sundowns have only managed to score more than one goal in a game on one occasion in their last 11 matches! That was a 3-3 draw with AmaZulu in mid-September. Since then they have netted four goals in five games. On a run …
Orlando Pirates are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions.
Their last defeat was a 1-0 away loss at Bloemfontein Celtic on August 19‚ since when they have won five games and drawn three.
Fortress
AmaZulu are unbeaten in their five games at home this season.
In fact‚ the last team to claim an away win over Usuthu were Pirates in a league game in April with a 2-1 success! Consistent
Pirates have reached the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout every season for the last 10 years and won eight of their ties at this stage.
Their only two ‘defeats’ came on penalties to eventual winners Bloemfontein Celtic after a 3-3 draw in 2012 and another loss on penalties to Polokwane City after a 2-2 draw last year. Dominant Bidvest Wits have been dom- inant against Maritzburg United down the years‚ losing only three of their 23 clashes in all competitions.
The last time they were defeated in KwaZulu-Natal was all the way back in 2009‚ which remains their only away defeat. Rare feat
Maritzburg United have a fairly dismal record in the Telkom Knockout‚ having only been past the quarterfinal stage once in 12 years of trying. Bogey side
Kaizer Chiefs, who lost in the recent derby, will be sick of the sight of SuperSport United having already been knocked out of the MTN8 by Matsatsantsa this season.