Posted in News on Nov 29, 2007.
Sundowns have already picked up one piece of silverware this season when they won the SAA Supa8 Cup a couple of months ago defeating Chiefs rivals Pirates in the final staged at Durban’s ABSA Stadium.
The Amakhosi will be out to stop Sundowns from enjoying the pleasure of a clean sweep of cup final wins over clubs from Soweto on Saturday evening, and Chiefs will also draw strength from the fact that under Muhsin Ertugral they have never lost a cup final to Sundowns.
Both teams go into the match knowing that in front a capacity crowd at Loftus Stadium on Saturday, their fans will want them to put up a show worthy of a cup Final. Although their overall league form has not produced the desired results, the two teams go into the weekend's match off the back of exciting 2-2 draws.
Chiefs had the perfect practice for the final as they took on and drew with Pirates in what was a very open and attacking game, while Sundowns had to play Jomo Cosmo twice in three days as the first game was suspended during play due to inclement weather.
The replayed game on Monday evening saw the teams each score 2 goals as they also played out a 2-2 draw.
The history
The first cup meeting between Chiefs and Sundowns under the guise of the PSL took place in the bright sun shine of the FNB Stadium in November 1997. Chiefs looked set to win the game after Thabang Lebese scored with ten minutes to go. Raphael Chukwu had other ideas and equalized late in the game to send the game into extra time, with no winner after 120 minutes the game went to a replay.
The story pretty much ran the same in the replay with Chiefs taking an early lead only for Sundowns through the strong physical presence of the Nigerian Chukwu to equalizer. This time around the game went into a shoot out and Chiefs prevailed with Brian Baloyi emerging the hero as he saved vitals kicks to lead Chiefs to their first cup win under the banner of the PSL.
A year later and the teams were battling it out again, this time in a rain-soaked FNB Stadium Chiefs took an early lead and again Sundowns fought back and pushed the game into extra time. The Brazilians took the lead in extra time and Siyabonga Nomvete scored with seven minutes remaining to push take the game to a shoot out.
There were plenty of missed penalties and in the end Chiefs shaved it 2-1, with Chiefs current assistant coach converting the winning kick. The 1999 – 2000 season saw Chiefs defeat Sundowns in a cup final for the third consecutive season, when Siyabonga Nomvete converted a 45th minute penalty to hand Chiefs their first BOB Save Super Bowl title since 1992.
The teams then met twice in 2000 – 2001 season in what was a mere exhibition game, Chiefs ran out 3-2 winners over Sundowns in the 3rd and 4th Place play off game in the BP Top Eight. Later that season Sundowns defeated Chiefs for the first and only time in a cup competition since 1996 as they knocked Chiefs out of the BOB Save Super Bowl with a 2-0 win. The teams met in the Final of the 2001 – 2002 Coca Cola Cup Final which Chiefs again won on penalties 7-6, this after the teams had earlier played out an imaginative and highly enthralling 2-2 draw. The 29th April 2006 was the last time the teams met in a Cup game, Chiefs over came Sundowns in the semi finals and went on to eventually win the 2006 ABSA Cup.
Look out for
The name Mabhudi Khenyeza will be on the lips of all fans as Chiefs go into this game. The man from Kwa-Zulu Natal scored a stunning goal against Pirates at the weekend and Muhsin Ertugral will want more of the same stuff from Khenyeza.
After a slow start for The Amakhosi Khenyeza is beginning to show the kind of form which put him on the most wanted list of a number of teams in the PSL. His deadly finishing is an asset and there can be no doubt that Khenyeza will want to score just as spectacular a goal as he did against Pirates.
A man who build his name up for his ability to rise to the big occasion Chiefs Ugandan international David Obua, did his chances of starting the Cup Final no harm with his hard working and enduring effort during the Soweto derby. Obua showed his class by coming off the bench and firstly set up an easy goal scoring chance for Shaun Bartlett, he also managed to burn the hands of Pirates keeper Senzo Meyiwa with a cracking volley from distance.
There can be no doubting that Obua is a major asset for Ertugral and if he can have the same kind of impact that he did in a short space over the weekend, for a full length game Chiefs could have a potential match winner in the hard working midfielder.
Gordon Ingesund has said that he cannot complain as the Cup Final approaches as he has five players returning from suspension and injury to his team. More than those coming back it will be a number of the players who started during his team's 2-2 draw with Cosmos on Monday evening who would have caught the coaches attention.
Peter Ndlovu found the energy and resources to strike with time up at the end of the game against Cosmos, and spared Sundowns blushes. The veteran striker is finally getting amongst the goals which would please his coach but not the opposition, Ingesund is further spoilt for choice with the return of the 2006 – 2007 PSL player of the season Godfrey Sapula who comes back to add dimension to his team.
Another pleasant headache for the Sundowns coach is who does he start in goal with Calvin Marlin and Brian Baloyi both on top of their game at the moment it causes a selection poser to Ingesund. Baloyi has made the comeback of note this season and has been Sundowns star performer. The former Bafana Bafana and Amakhosi captain was between the sticks for Sundowns when the teams played out a goalless draw in a league game a few weeks ago.
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Mamelodi Sundowns in cup competition since 1996 - 1997
1997 – 1998
Rothmans Cup Final
29th November 1997 1ST Leg
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Lebese 80’) Sundowns 1
3rd December 1997 2nd Leg
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Muchichwa 22’) Sundowns 1
Chiefs win aet on penalties
1998 – 1999
Rothmans Cup Final
28th November 1998
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Mooki 1’, Nomvete 113’) Sundowns 2
Chiefs win 2-1 aet on penalties
1999 – 2000
BOB Save Super Bowl Final
11th June 2000
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Nomvete pen 45’) Sundowns 0
2000 – 2001
BP Top Eight Third Fourth Place Play Off
26th August 2000
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Pule 31’, Nauseb 61’ & 64’) Mamelodi Sundowns 2
BOB Save Super Bowl ¼ Finals
29th April 2001
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Sundowns 1
2001 – 2002
BP Top Eight Final
1st September 2001
FNB Stadium Johannesburg
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Zwane 27’, Nzama 80’) Sundowns 2
Chiefs win aet on penalties 7-6
2003 – 2004
ABSA Cup 1st Round
29th February 2004
Odi Stadium Mabopane
Sundowns 1 Chiefs 3 (Moshoeu pen 33, Dlamini 55’, Mendu 80)
2005 – 2006
ABSA Cup Semi Final
29th April 2005
Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Rustenburg
Sundowns 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0
Chiefs win aet 2-1 on penalties
