AmaZulu FC will battle it out with Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 semi-final second-leg match at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 3:30 pm CAT.
Usuthu are in control of this tie having grabbed an important away goal in the first-leg encounter which was played in Johannesburg three weeks ago.
The KwaZulu-Natal giants will progress to the final of the lucrative tournament if they keep a clean sheet against the Glamour Boys.
Romain Folz, the AmaZulu head coach, is winless in his first two matches in charge of the team, but he is confident of masterminding a victory over Chiefs.
“Yes, it is seven games but I have lost [just] one [while in charge of Marumo Gallants]. I haven’t won yet and the rest have been draws. You can always argue that. If you remember back at Gallants, we conceded against Royal AM in the last minute and here we got the red card,” Folz said.
“The previous game against Pirates, a lot of things happened there, so it has been eventful. But I’m someone who believes that, if you keep working, if you put your mind on what you are doing, at some point it will turn in your way…
“One thing for sure we are going to enter the game against Chiefs, and we will give our best. We will give them a tough time and we will do what we need to do to win, and we will win that game and go to the final.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs, who are the most decorated club in the history of the Top 8 competition with 15 titles, are on the back foot as it is imperative for the Soweto giants to find the back of the net against AmaZulu.
The Glamour Boys are coming into this cup encounter winless in their last two matches having fought back to hold TS Galaxy to a 2-2 draw in a DStv Premiership match in midweek.
AmaZulu defender Tercious Malepe will miss the game as the 25-year-old is suspended, while Chiefs have no suspension concerns.
Head-to-Head (since 1985)
PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS
Season Cup Result Scorers
1987 Mainstay Cup, final Chiefs 1-0 AmaZulu Maponyane 1989 JPS, 1st round Chiefs 4-0 AmaZulu Thindwa, McGregor 2, Khuse 1992 Coca-Cola Cup, final Chiefs 1-3 AmaZulu Phadime; Magagula, Dearnley, Mwale 1994 BP Top 8, semifinal AmaZulu 1-2 Chiefs Magagula; Nyirenda, Amukola 2010/11 Telkom KO, last 16 AmaZulu 0-2 Chiefs Nale, Letsholonyane 2017/18 Telkom KO, last 16 Chiefs 3-0 AmaZulu Maluleka, Ekstein, Tshabalala 2022/23 MTN8 semi, first leg Chiefs 1-1 AmaZulu Dolly; Mhango
CUP RECORD
PWDLGFGA
AmaZulu 7 1 1 5 5 14 Chiefs 7 5 1 1 14 5
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2017/18 Chiefs 0-0 AmaZulu 2018/19 Chiefs 2-0 AmaZulu Mphahlele, Ngezana 2018/19 AmaZulu 2-3 Chiefs Karuru, van Heerden; van Heerden (og), Parker, Katsande 2019/20 AmaZulu 0-2 Chiefs Castro, Billiat 2019/20 Chiefs 0-1 AmaZulu Ntuli 2020/21 AmaZulu 0-1 Chiefs Nurkovic 2020/21 Chiefs 1-2 AmaZulu Castro (pen); Mulenga, Majoro 2021/22 AmaZulu 1-1 Chiefs Memela; Dolly (pen) 2021/22 Chiefs 1-1 AmaZulu Buchanan (og); Ntuli 2022/23 Chiefs 0-0 AmaZulu
OVERALL RECORD (all competitions)
PWDLGFGA
AmaZulu 70 10 18 42 52 120 Chiefs 70 42 18 10 120 52
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