Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns will add another chapter to their cup rivalry when the teams meet in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final at Goble Park.
Stars, who won the League Cup in 1994 when it was known as the Coca-Cola Cup, advanced into the last eight with a 1-0 home win over Bidvest Wits in the previous round. Attacking midfielder Danny Venter scored the decisive goal for the Free State side.
Sundowns, who have two League Cup titles to their name (1990 & 1999), beat Chippa United 2-0 in the last 16 to advance into the quarterfinals. Keagan Dolly and Hlompho Kekana scored the Tshwane side’s goals against the Chilli Boys.
Stars and Sundowns have a rich cup history between them, having met no less than 14 times since 1989. The Brazilians have generally emerged as the victors, claiming 10 wins compared to just three for Ea Lla Koto.
In fact, Stars have not beaten Sundowns in a cup match since the very first season of the Premier Soccer League era, way back in 1996/97. Since then, the Tshwane giants have racked up nine outright victories (alongside one draw between the teams).
The teams’ most recent cup meeting was a Telkom Knockout classic: in 2009/10 the Brazilians won 4-3 away from home in the first round, with a brace from Benedict Vilakazi inspiring them to victory over Ea Lla Koto. Neutrals will certainly be hoping for a repeat of that thrilling encounter when the teams meet in the TKO this season.
In all, the teams have clashed in 65 league and cup matches, with ‘Downs claiming 34 wins compared to Stars’ 13. The Brazilians beat the Free State side 2-0 both home and away in last season’s pair of league encounters.
Both teams were in league action in midweek and claimed morale-boosting away victories: Stars won 2-0 at Polokwane City thanks to a brace from Andrea Fileccia, while Anthony Laffor scored the only goal of the game as ‘Downs beat Bloemfontein Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium.
Kick-off is at 15:00 on October 25.
