Cape Town City will look to take down heavyweight contenders Mamelodi Sundowns when the teams meet in the first leg of the 2018 MTN8 semifinals, with the match set for the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, August 25, kick-off at 15h00.

City earned their place in the final four by edging hosts Maritzburg United in the last quarterfinal. Keanu Cupido netted the only goal of the game at Harry Gwala Stadium on August 12, putting the Cape side into the semis for the third successive year.

Their MTN8 debut in 2016 saw the Citizens eliminated in the semifinals by Bidvest Wits (3-0 on aggregate), while last year they reached the final and held SuperSport United 1-1, only to be beaten on post-match penalties (4-2). This year the Cape side will looking to go one step further and claim the trophy for the first time.

Sundowns eased into the semifinals with a 2-0 home win over Golden Arrows on August 11. Sibusiso Vilakazi and Wayne Arendse scored the goals for Pitso Mosimane’s team at the Lucas Moripe Stadium to move into the final four for the first time since 2016.

The Brazilians have won the Top Eight Cup three times, though not since the competition was renamed the MTN8. The Tshwane’s side last triumph in the competition was back in 2007 when it was still known as the SAA Supa8.

In head-to-head stats, City and Sundowns have met in just one previous knockout match – that was a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal earlier this year which saw the Brazilians claim a 2-1 away win thanks to goals from Percy Tau and Hlompho Kekana – this was also the most recent clash between the teams.

In league terms, City have claimed three wins compared to one for ‘Downs in four matches since the Cape side’s formation at the start of the 2016/17 season.

Head-to-Head (since 2016/17)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2017/18 Nedbank Cup, qfinal City 1-2 Sundowns Ralani; Tau, Kekana

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 Sundowns 1-2 CTC Nthethe; Manyama 2

2016/17 CTC 1-0 Sundowns Manyama

2017/18 Sundowns 0-1 CTC Akosah-Bempah

2017/18 CTC 0-1 Sundowns Billiat

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

City 1 0 0 1 1 2

Sundowns 1 1 0 0 2 1

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)

P W D L GF GA

City 5 3 0 2 5 4

Sundowns 5 2 0 3 4 5