After Polokwane City's impressive win against MTN8 champions Cape Town City at Newlands, Rise and Shine will look to gain the edge in their first leg semi-final against Highlands Park. Who do you think is going to claim victory?
Turning our attention abroad, let's take a look at the English Premier League.
Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjær is hoping to put their shock defeat behind them, with victory over the Saints. However, confident-looking Southampton will hope to make it back-to-back wins against the Red Devils at St Mary's. Who are you backing?
Pointless Watford can't stop losing. Newcastle United, in contrast, has that winning feeling after stunning Tottenham Hotspur away from home. Can the Geordies continue their winning form? Get in there and win!
Polokwane City v Highlands Park (MTN8)
Match 3 Soccer 6 Pool, 31 August S6 V2 P1
League Rankings: Polokwane City 3rd Highlands Park 11th
Useful facts: On the local football front, all eyes will be on the MTN8 as the two-legged semi-final encounters get underway, and it does not get more interesting than Polokwane City up against Highlands Park. Both teams have started the season quite well, although the league table will tell a different story in that the Lions of the North are sitting in 11th place. An aggregate win against Rise and Shine, starting with this leg, will give them a massive boost for two reasons – they will reach a cup final in only their second season back in the elite league, plus it will do their confidence in the league the world of good, where they need to turn draws into wins. Polokwane City shocked the defending champions, Cape Town City, when they knocked them out of the competition at the first time of asking. The danger man on their side should be Mohammed Anas, who was instrumental with his Man of the Match performance in orchestrating the downfall of the Citizens. This will also be a tactical battle between Owen da Gama, who's vastly experienced and knows the ins and outs of the local game, and Zlatko Krmpotic, who is familiar with Africa but still learning the ropes in the South African game. This should be a tight one to call, with possibly an odd goal separating the two teams at the end of the first leg, ensuring that we would be in for a gripping affair in the second leg.
Patrick Mayo: Polokwane City win
Southampton v Manchester United (ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE)
Match 2 Soccer 6 Pool, 31 August S6 V2 P1
League Rankings: Southampton 18th Manchester United 5th
Useful facts: Straight after their Football League Cup match against Fulham on Tuesday (27 August), Southampton have to prepare to do battle with Manchester United. After coming out 2-1 losers in their second match of the season, against Liverpool, the home side will be hoping for better luck against a traditional top six side. But it won't be easy, although morale must be low in the Red Devils camp following their 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace last Saturday, where they equalised with a minute to go, only to concede at the death. Matches between the two teams have been closely contested in recent times. In their last meeting, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's charges won 3-2, having drawn 2-2 in the first round fixture.
Patrick Mayo: Draw
Newcastle v Watford (ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE)
Match 5 Soccer 6 Pool, 31 August S6 V2 P1
League Rankings: Newcastle 19th Watford 20th
Useful facts: The season has really not gone according to script so far for the two teams, with Watford having lost all of their three opening games of the campaign, while Newcastle has won one and lost two. When teams at the basement of the league table face, it tends to get ugly, and this tie will be no different. The two teams will be well aware that getting points from the teams at the other end of the table is tough, and so winning against those in a similar situation is a must in order to survive in the league. Newcastle's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur will have massively boosted morale and will surely serve as a warning to Watford, who have conceded seven goals so far. The last time the two teams met was in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January, with Watford emerging 2-0 victors, so there is revenge on the cards.
Patrick Mayo: Newcastle win
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