Wounded Giants Chiefs and Sundowns face Carling Cup reckoning after CAF humiliation
Two of South Africa’s biggest clubs are bleeding, and Tuesday night is their chance to stop it.
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns open their Carling Knockout Cup campaigns under heavy pressure after exits from continental competition left both sides scrambling for answers.
Fernando Da Cruz’s Amakhosi host TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium, and the Rockets have been a nemesis in recent meetings.
Chiefs were dumped out of the Confederation Cup by Zambia’s Red Arrows on penalties after winning the second leg 1-0, and the pain is still fresh.
Doubts around Da Cruz are growing, and a slip against Galaxy days before the Soweto Derby would only turn up the heat.
At Loftus Versfeld, Sundowns welcome Marumo Gallants. The defending champions were the shock of the CAF club competitions, failing to get past the preliminary round of the Champions League.
Angola’s Wiliete SC eliminated them on away goals after a 1-1 draw in Pretoria on Friday, ending a long run of group stage appearances.
Miguel Cardoso has called it “a dark night” and promised his team will rise from the ashes. Now he needs to show it.
Orlando Pirates are also in action on Tuesday, and their mood could hardly be more different.
The Buccaneers dismantled Namibia’s African Stars 5-0 on aggregate to reach the Champions League group stage, and they will be hoping that momentum carries into the cup.
The gap between the three Soweto and Pretoria giants has rarely looked this stark. For Chiefs and Sundowns, one wounded week has to end somewhere, and the Carling Cup is the quickest place to start a recovery.
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