Marumo Gallants and Mamelodi Sundowns will clash in their first-ever Carling Knockout Cup semifinal on Sunday at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.
With a dominant record against Gallants and a strong League Cup run, Sundowns, based in Pretoria, enter the game as clear favorites. However, Gallants, making their debut in the Carling Cup, have shown resilience and a strong desire for silverware, setting the stage for an exciting battle for a spot in the final.
The teams have previously met twice in domestic cup competitions, both times in the Nedbank Cup, with Sundowns emerging victorious. Their first encounter was in the 2021-22 Nedbank Cup final, where Sundowns won 2-1 in extra time, thanks to a crucial goal by Thapelo Morena. In their second meeting during the 2022-23 Nedbank Cup Round of 16, Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile scored a hat-trick, securing a 3-1 win. Sundowns remain unbeaten in seven encounters with Gallants across all competitions, with six wins and one draw, scoring 17 goals to Gallants’ four.
Shalulile has been particularly effective in this matchup, scoring six goals overall, four of which came in cup games. Gallants, on the other hand, have relied on various players to find the net against Sundowns, with Gabadinho Mhango, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Junior Dion, and Boitumelo Pheko each scoring once in past encounters.
Sundowns’ path to the Carling Cup semifinal has been dominant, achieving a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Kaizer Chiefs and a 5-0 victory over Golden Arrows in the Round of 16, without conceding a single goal. This is their 12th League Cup semifinal in the PSL era, and they have reached the final seven times, lifting the trophy four times, with their last win in 2019-20.
Under coach Dan Malesela, Gallants reached the semifinal by defeating Stellenbosch 1-0 in the quarterfinals, courtesy of Siyabulela Shai’s early goal, and Polokwane City 3-2 in the Round of 16. This semifinal marks Malesela’s first Carling Cup with Gallants, though he previously led TS Galaxy to a historic Nedbank Cup victory in 2019 as the first coach to win it with a non-top-flight team.
Ahead of this semifinal, Malesela encouraged his players to play confidently and focus on executing their own game plan rather than responding to Sundowns’ style.
“The biggest lesson we learned was to never try and play according to how your opponents are going to attack you,” Malesela told reporters. “Stick to your own plans and what your team can do.”
Sundowns, however, will be missing the versatile Rivaldo Coetzee, who is out with a serious ACL injury, as confirmed by coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
Despite this setback, Sundowns’ form and experience in cup competitions give them the edge, but Gallants’ determination and Malesela’s tactical insights could make this a tighter contest than expected.
Kick-off is set for 15h00, with the winner securing a spot in the Carling Knockout Cup final and a shot at lifting a major trophy.