Stellies welcome Downs as MTN8 final looms large

Smiso Msomi|Published

Khuliso Mudau of Mamelodi Sundowns is challenged by Ibraheem Olalekan Jabaar of Stellenbosch FC during the 2024 MTN8 first leg semifinal. | BackpagePix

A spot in the 2024 MTN8 final will be on the line when a youthful Stellenbosch seek to finish the job against a Mamelodi Sundowns side tipped as potential winners of the competition.

Stellies have placed themselves in a glorious position to advance to yet another final after scoring an away goal thanks to a Fawaaz Basadien penalty in the first leg in midweek and taking a 1-0 lead into the second leg.

The two teams will lock horns one final time at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.

The Cape Winelands-based outfit seemingly pulled off what seemed to be a nearly perfect performance to score a goal of their own and restrict Sundowns to just a few glaring chances.

Not many teams have been able to keep clean sheets against the Brazilians and Stellies needed a player-of-the-match performance by goalkeeper Sage Stephens to ward off any threats.

Sundowns have only failed to score in two competitive matches in their previous ten games, both to Western Cape sides after falling to defeat at the hands of Cape Town City in the final league game last campaign.

In just his second competitive game this season, head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has already begun gathering detractors in the Sundowns fan base having taken over from Rulani Mokwena ahead of the new season.

Despite his side’s shoddy showing at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Mngqithi expressed that he expected a better showing in Durban and felt his side needed to lose to realise where they're at.

“We’re expected to get the results in every game we play, and I do believe we will get the results. And I do believe in the second round of the semifinals you’ll see a completely different team,” he said.

He further added: “We needed this (loss) as well, probably as a wakeup call because when you keep winning and winning, even when you are not doing exceptionally well, it creates an impression that you will always win, or you’re entitled to win. And I think this is very good because it will give the team a very good wake-up call.

“And I’m very confident we will do very well in the second round,” Mngqithi concluded.

Stellenbosch has had a slight advantage this early on in the season with regards to gaining match fitness having participated in the CAF Confederation Cup.

And that was very evident in the first leg as they kept up with a quality-riddled Sundowns stride for stride and looked devastating on the counter attack with their speed.

Matches between these two teams over the years have not been clear-cut even in recent seasons although Sundowns had won the previous three.

However, if any side knows what it takes to eliminate Sundowns from a cup competition, it is Stellies having dumped them out of the Nedbank Cup two seasons ago.

In the Sundowns camp, questions will continue to be asked of Mngqithi and his new-look technical team if the club is to be eliminated from the MTN8 having lost in the final under the previous coach.

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