Downs look to break hoodoo

2008-03-13 09:26

Johannesburg - SuperSport United will look to continue their recent cup dominance over regional rivals Mamelodi Sundowns when the teams meet in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 at Olympia Park on Saturday evening.

Kick off is at 19:30.

League title-chasing Matsatsantsa have defeated the Brazilians in their last three cup meetings, dating back to the quarter-finals of this competition in 2004/05 when a Tico-Tico Bucuane hat-trick saw them win 3-2.

Then, in both 2005/06 and 2006/07, United defeated their illustrious opponents in the semi-finals of the Top Eight competition to establish their dominance in knockout tournaments.

Gavin Hunt's team also beat Sundowns 3-2 in the first half of the league season, a result that has spurred them on to compete fiercely with Ajax Cape Town for the PSL title.

Sundowns, for their part, have had a poor season as far as defending their league title goes, but many have already forgotten that the Chloorkop side won the SAA Supa8 Cup last year and that they have reached the final four of this tournament in the last two seasons.

In 2005/06 they fell at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Kaizer Chiefs and last term a hard running Ajax beat the exhausted Brazilians 2-0 in the final at Durban.

Downs have not won at Olympia Park in seven matches, but the fierce rivalry between these sides means that coach Trott Moloto should have no problem motivating his players for this match.

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