AmaZulu FC will be eyeing a place in the Carling Knockout final when they host TS Galaxy in Sunday’s semi-final encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.
Usuthu are coming into this cup match wounded and dangerous after they saw their five-match unbeaten run across all competitions come to an end when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in a DStv Premiership match on November 25.
AmaZulu are making their first appearance in the League Cup semi-finals since 2010 when they lost to eventual winners Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout. Usuthu, who won this tournament as the Coca Cola Cup in 1992, are determined to reach the League Cup final for the second time.
“We can’t look past the semi-finals without playing Galaxy,” AmaZulu right-back-come-right-winger Wayde Jooste said.
“We can learn from the previous season [where AmaZulu lost 1-0 to Pirates in the final of the MTN8]. I don’t think our next game against Galaxy will be the same as the previous ones.
“They’ve been watching us these past few weeks, knowing for a while now they’re playing us in the semifinal. They know us and we’ll be prepared for them too.”
Meanwhile, Galaxy have been inconsistent in their last six matches across all competitions, but they bounced back to winning ways in their most recent game as they claimed an emphatic 3-0 win over Polokwane City in a DStv Premiership match on November 26.
The Rockets are making their debut appearance in the League Cup with the club having been established in 2018. However, the Mpumalanga side has won a major trophy as they clinched the 2019 Nedbank Cup and they are now eyeing their second appearance in a major cup final.
“I’m really happy to be back on the field again after such a long time. I’m enjoying every single moment and I’m working hard to get back to where I was before,” Galaxy striker Samir Nurkovic said.
“It is always a good feeling and an amazing feeling that you are still in the running to win some silverware [Carling Knockout].
“All we need to do is to focus [on the game against AmaZulu] and do what the coach is asking from us and everything else is in God’s hands.”
AmaZulu have no suspension concerns, but Taariq Fielies, Veluyeke Zulu and Thembela Sikhakhane who have been out nursing their respective injuries.
Galaxy, on the other hand, will be missing the services of the injured Bernard Parker and the suspended Mlungisi Mbunjana.
Head-to-Head (since 2020/21)
PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS
N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of AmaZulu and TS Galaxy.
CUP RECORD
N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of AmaZulu and TS Galaxy.
ALL LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2020/21 Galaxy 1-0 AmaZulu Lekay
2020/21 AmaZulu 2-1 Galaxy Majoro 2; Mbatha (pen)
2021/22 Galaxy 0-1 AmaZulu Memela
2021/22 AmaZulu 0-0 Galaxy
2022/23 Galaxy 0-0 AmaZulu
2022/23 AmaZulu 1-2 Galaxy Dion; Traore 2 (1 pen)
2023/24 AmaZulu 1-0 Galaxy Kwem
OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)
P W D L GF GA
AmaZulu 7 3 2 2 5 4
Galaxy 7 2 2 3 4 5