OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Tuesday 6.30pm.
SUNDOWNS will be on a mission to avenge their 1-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates in the first leg semi-final of the Rothmans Cup.
Sundowns’ unbeaten 15 run of 15 matches at Loftus Stadium came to an abrupt end when Denis Lota thumped in a goal in the 17th minute, and the defeat will certainly get the Brazilians’ blood boiling and they will be looking at rectifying their mistakes.
The return leg will be played at the FNB Stadium next week, and coach Paul Dolezar will be whipping his side into shape for the challenge.
Dolezar will have two league matches this week to perfect his tactic, and will be working on his players’ concentration, discipline and finishing.
Downs meet Supersport United in a Pretoria derby at the Caledonian Stadium on Thursday, and on Sunday, they host Hellenic at Loftus in Castle Premier League match.
The team from Mamelodi have 22 points off eight matches, and are sitting snugly at the top of the table.
Apart from Sundowns, there are a host of other teams also slugging it out this week, as the League has to make up for fixture backlogs.
On Wednesday, Mother City host Bloemfontein Celtic at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, while Moroka Swallows tackle Orlando Pirates at the Rand Stadium on Thursday night.
On Friday Wits University will play Manning Rangers at Milpark, and Ajax Cape Town go head-to-head with Bush Bucks at Newlands in Cape Town.
Chiefs meet Classic at Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday, while Mother City will look to upset African Wanderers at Athlone.
On Sunday, Moroka Swallows play Supersport United at the Rand; AmaZulu face Santos at Kings Park; Free State Stars come to grips with Jomo Cosmos at Charles Mopeli, and Bloemfontein Celtic face the Buccaneers at Free State Rugby Stadium.