Sundowns ready to wrap things up
MAMELODI Sundowns will have to brush off their recent disappointment of being dumped out of the CAF Champions League as an opportunity to seal the Premiership title looms large in the form of visiting Cape Town City tomorrow.
Masandawana are just one point away from reaching an untouchable 58 points and claiming a fifth league title in as many years with five games remaining.
They have a 12-point gap over second-placed Royal AM, who have played a game more.
The Chloorkop-based club continue to dominate local football and are still on course to claim a domestic treble, having already captured the MTN8 and are in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup as well.
The Brazilians have been imperious this season and often looked untouchable with their recent 6-0 demolition of Golden Arrows in the Premiership a true testament to the kind of ruthless precision the club has displayed throughout this season.
Peter Shalulile, who scored a hat-trick against Arrows, was kept quiet for both quarter-final legs of the Champions League and will want a return to form as he chases the illustrious Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot.
The Citizens, meanwhile, don’t have the best record against Sundowns but their recent form is reason enough for coach Eric Tinkler to be optimistic about the possibility of snatching a positive result in the executive capital.
City haven’t gotten the better of Sundowns since 2020 but are currently on an eight game undefeated streak, claiming victory in five of those games.
The most impressive element about City is their improvement in front of goal, which they’ll need against a tough Sundowns defence.
A much improved Khanyisa
Mayo has led City’s line to 10 goals in their last five matches. The SuperSport United Academy graduate has four goal assists in the last five games and could prove a handful against Sundowns.
The Citizens, who have hit form at the right time, have also slotted themselves into the conversation for CAF Champions League qualification.
They are currently in third position, five points behind secondplaced Royal AM but with two games in hands, one of them a controversial match against fourthplaced Kaizer Chiefs.
The hugely anticipated encounter will take place at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and will kick-off at 7.30pm.