Our soccer analyst shares a thrilling preview on how the PSL clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City will play out on Tuesday 19 December 2017.
With logic on their side, Sundowns are the PSL champions in waiting, sitting six points clear at the top of the standings and boasting two games in hand. Their unstoppable form was on full display when they hammered Bloemfontein Celtic 4-1, extending their unbeaten run in the league to seven games. Meanwhile, Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City snapped their four-match winless streak this weekend with a gritty 1-0 win over AmaZulu.
Match Details: Mamelodi Sundowns v Cape Town City | Tuesday 19 December | Loftus Versfeld | 19:30
To Win Match
Sundowns 8/10 | Draw 24/10 | CT City 34/10
Mamelodi Sundowns
The only side to prevent Pitso Mosimane’s men from clinching all three points in their last seven games is Chippa United, who held them to a goalless draw. Sundowns have claimed victory in nine of their 13 league outings this season. A win against the Capetonians will see them stretch their lead to nine points over second-placed Kaizer Chiefs with a game in hand.
Percy Tau has been a real threat this campaign with six goals, shining in recent matches with multiple Man of the Match performances. Cape Town City will need to find a way to curb his speedy, intelligent runs that create havoc for defences, especially in combination with the crafty Themba Zwane.
Adding fuel to their fire, Sundowns will be eager to avenge last season’s defeats as Cape Town City did the double over them last year, with a 2-1 win in Pretoria and a 1-0 victory in Cape Town. That second match notably dashed Sundowns’ hopes of catching Bidvest Wits in the title race, with Mosimane publicly critiquing City’s heavy reliance on counter-attacks.
Cape Town City
The Citizens have faced a tough spell lately, managing just a single win in five games. That victory was perfectly timed as a morale booster ahead of facing arguably South Africa’s top team. Coach Benni McCarthy commended his squad for their resilience, even suggesting a tactical approach to grind out a win rather than focusing on flair football.
The return of Aubrey Ngoma from injury has sparked some encouraging performances, with his attacking flair earning high praise from McCarthy, who now looks to build the team’s play around him. Teko Modise, facing his former side for the first time, will look to make an impact after revealing a strained relationship with Mosimane in his autobiography, The Curse of Teko Modise.
Should City win, they will leap to second place on the log, four points adrift of Sundowns. However, securing that victory away against a well-oiled Sundowns squad will be a hefty challenge.
Verdict: Mamelodi Sundowns 8/10
Expect an action-packed match! While Cape Town City has shown flashes of promise, their big-match temperament has been questionable in key games including the MTN8 final and crucial league clashes. Our money is on the unstoppable Mamelodi Sundowns to continue their dominance.
