AmaZulu FC will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in the Betway Premiership when they face Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.
Usuthu got off to a perfect start as they secured a 1-0 win over PSL debutants, Orbit College, at home on August 9 and coach Arthur Zwane’s side are placed fifth in the standings.
Therefore, AmaZulu returned to winning ways after losing to Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 on August 3, but the KwaZulu-Natal giants are unbeaten in their last four Betway Premiership matches.
“We can’t think because they (Sundowns) drew their first game that perhaps it’s going to be an easier game,” AmaZulu head coach Zwane said.
“It’s going to be a very difficult season for everyone. There will be fewer underdogs this season because if you look at our previous games against Sundowns, we lost due to their individual brilliance.
“The likes of Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile stood out for them in games against us — they made the difference. So this is why I say it’s going to be difficult for everyone.”
Meanwhile, Sundowns surrendered their lead in their opening league match of the season as they drew 1-1 with Chippa United away on August 9, which sees the defending champions placed eighth in the league standings.
However, the draw extended Sundowns’ unbeaten run to three games across all competitions and they are also undefeated in their last seven matches in the Betway Premiership.
“We have to fight for the next one [against AmaZulu], now we have to think about the next one, look at this match, see the mistake and try to build the team. A lot to go with this team until we finish let’s see what will happen,” Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso said.
“Yeah, it is what it is. I’m more than used to that, the team is more used to that we know we have 72 hours to prepare ourselves for the next match.
“Obviously the context of victory would have allowed us to be in a general ambience and comfort zone, but it is not where we are and we will deal with it in the right way. We will be strong for our next match and we will fight to win it.”
Thapelo Morena has missed Sundowns’ first two matches in the current season due to an injury, while AmaZulu were without the services of Richard Ofori against Orbit College due to a concussion.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2020/21 Sundowns 4-3 AmaZulu Zwane 3, Shalulile; Majoro, Memela, Khumalo
2020/21 AmaZulu 0-0 Sundowns
2021/22 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Zwane (pen)
2021/22 AmaZulu 1-0 Sundowns Mulenga
2022/23 Sundowns 1-0 AmaZulu Allende
2022/23 AmaZulu 2-2 Sundowns Mphalele, Dion; Zungu, Shalulile
2023/24 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Ribeiro (pen)
2023/24 Sundowns 3-0 AmaZulu Ribeiro 3
2024/25 AmaZulu 0-1 Sundowns Rayners
2024/25 Sundowns 2-0 AmaZulu Shalulile, Sales
LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)
Home
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 34 22 6 6 70 29
AmaZulu 35 3 9 23 19 57
Away
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 35 23 9 3 57 19
AmaZulu 34 6 6 22 29 70
Total
P W D L GF GA
Sundowns 69 45 15 9 127 48
AmaZulu 69 9 15 45 48 127
