No clear favourites for MTN8 semis berth

Who's ready to reach the semifinals of the 2019 MTN8 tournament? Well, we have the quarterfinals fixtures this weekend. Sowetan assesses each team's chances in the last eight and whether they are good enough to go all the way.Playing in their own backyard, the defending champions stand a very good chance of going through to the semis. Benni McCarthy's charges have been in the final of the last two editions - losing one and winning one, with both finals against SuperSport.

The last time they lost at home was to Bidvest Wits 10 months ago - a stretch of 14 matches without a defeat. It's a mountain to climb for Rise and Shine, but the Limpopo side will look to outshine the Citizens.This can go either way. Bucs will be seen as favourites by virtue of playing at home, but the Lions of the North have proved many times that they are no pushovers, either in Tembisa, their base, or on the road.

The Brazilians don't always have it easy against Siwelele. The strange thing is: Downs win in Celtic's backyard, but Celtic give them problems in Pretoria. In fact, the last time the two sides met in the MTN8, Celtic beat Sundowns 4-2 on penalties at Lucas Moripe Stadium in 2015. This was a quarterfinals clash. Like the other teams playing at home, you may think that Sundowns are favourites, but given their poor recent history in this tournament and Celtic giving them problems at home, the Free State Staters are in a good position.Both teams won in midweek. Wits beat Polokwane City 1-0 away. SuperSport eased past Pirates 3-0. Reaching the last two finals means Matsatsantsa know their way around this tournament, while keeping in mind that Wits won the MTN8 in 2016.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Highlands Park coach fears Orlando Pirates backlashHighlands Park coach Owen da Gama fears a potential backlash from Orlando Pirates when the two sides clash in the MTN8 quarterfinal at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

Highlands Park coach fears Orlando Pirates backlashHighlands Park coach Owen da Gama fears a potential backlash from Orlando Pirates when the two sides clash in the MTN8 quarterfinal at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Source: SowetanLIVE - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy ‘not looking for excuses’This weekend City must move again to avoid a clash with GladAfrica Championship matches at Athlone Stadium and will host Polokwane City in their MTN8 quarterfinal at Newlands on Saturday (kickoff 3pm).
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

INFOGRAPHIC: The royals ranked from most to least favourite by the British publicThe stats are in, and the people have spoken – here's who tops the list for the most popular royal in the UK.
Source: Channel24 - 🏆 48. / 51 Read more »

COOK: Game bird potjie with oranges and gingerWingshooting is one of my favourite pastimes, apart from fly-fishing, hunting, cooking, driving nice cars, drinking good wine and puffing on the occasional cigar.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

EDITORIAL: Marikana must not be repeatedAs platinum pay negotiations hot up and attitudes harden there are few signs that the calamity can never happen again
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »