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Sundowns host a bruised Ajax

Johannesburg - Mamelodi Sundowns welcome a bruised Ajax Cape Town side to Loftus Stadium in a must win Premier Soccer League tie for both sides on Tuesday evening, kick-off at 19:30.

Both sides have failed to impress throughout the season and sit in the bottom half of the log - unfamiliar territory for two of South Africa’s most famous football club sides.

The Brazilians knocked the Urban Warriors out of the Nedbank Cup in their last encounter thanks to an extra time goal by Tebogo Langerman.

Despite the loss in the two sides previous meeting Ajax coach Jan Versleijen is positive that his side can get something out of the game on Tuesday.

“We played against them here in Cape Town [in the Nedbank Cup]. We were almost a different team than when we were playing in the league,” said the coach.

“From that game we can get a lot of positives because our organisation was good. So I have a good feeling for the Sundowns game.”

Versleijen is not yet sure if he will make any changes to the side that played to a goalless draw against fellow strugglers AmaZulu on Friday night.

“I am not sure if I will keep the same team,” added the coach.

“I will have to see how everyone comes out of this game against AmaZulu. I have to see if there are some injuries and if some are unfit, we have a few days to bring the team together on the field. There will probably be one or two changes”

The Dutch coach hasn’t managed to win a single game while in charge of the Cape side and he admits that he is starting to feel the pressure; he is the Cape Town side’s third coach of the season.

“Definitely [am I feeling the pressure]! If there is no pressure then that is not good, you need pressure. It is a positive pressure,” added Versleijen.

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele says his side expect a difficult game despite their opposition’s low position on the log.

“Every game we go out there and do our best, we will be looking for all three points,” said Mphahlele.

“They [Ajax Cape Town] are a football playing team, they play a similar type of football than us so we are expecting a tough game, they need the points.”

The player returned to the Brazilians after a short loan spell at Tshwane rivals AmaTuks at the start of the season, and has gone on to be a regular for the Chloorkop based club over the past month.

The defender added that both sides have struggled this season and are in desperate need of some points.

“They [Ajax] need the points, they are usually in the top five of the league, same with us. It has been one of those seasons where both of us have struggled in the league,” added Mphahlele.

Sundows will be without influential centre back Alje Schut for the game on Tuesday. The Dutch defender received a red card in his sides draw against Platinum Stars on Saturday for an off the ball altercation with Dikwena striker Henrico Botes.

Ajax currently occupy 15th place on the log, they are only four points above bottom side Chippa United while the Brazilians currently sit in 11th place on the log.

The last meeting between the sides in the league ended in a goalless draw at Cape Town Stadium in October last year.

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