History beckons for the Chilli Boys
AWAY GOALS CAN BE CLINCHER
CHIPPA United sail into uncharted territory as they target a first cup final berth in their MTN8 clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
The Chilli Boys will carry the hopes of thousands of Eastern Cape fans into tonight’s semifinal second leg as they attempt to topple Pitso Mosimane’s star-studded Brazilians in their own backyard.
Chippa have never made it this far in a knockout tournament at this level and coach Dan “Dance” Malesela’s young troops are relishing the opportunity of upstaging the PSL champions. The added incentive is the prospect of a first victory over Sundowns.
The Port Elizabeth side have never beaten Sundowns since their arrival in the big league three years ago, but Malesela is confident that his team will get the job done tonight.
Chippa will draw on the fact that away goals will work to their advantage.
“Sundowns have an advantage that they are playing at home [and] we have an advantage of the away-goal rule,” Malesela said.
“I know the Sundowns fans will come out in big numbers; that might be an added advantage to them. Having said that, ours is more of a powerful tool if we use it. If we score, for them to win they have to score two goals. Any draw with goals is a plus for us but we are obviously not going to sit and play for a draw.”
Malesela said his team will “try and avoid penalties as much as possible”.
Meanwhile, Mosimane said at the weekend he was considering playing his B team tonight owing to his team’s hectic domestic and continental schedule.
But Malesela is not buying into that. “Maybe they might rest one or two players.”