Rayners Warns Sundowns To Punish Arrows Early
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners says Masandawana understand the danger posed by Lamontville Golden Arrows, but insists their big-match temperament in winner-takes-all encounters will prove decisive.
Sundowns host Abafana Bes’Thende in a crucial Carling Knockout quarter-final clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening.
This fixture represents the fourth meeting between the two sides this season, following a fiercely contested two-legged MTN8 semi-final tie and a recent league encounter.
Golden Arrows claimed a 1-0 win in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-finals when Junior Dion sprinted clear to beat Ricardo Goss at Lucas Moripe Stadium. However, Sundowns turned on the style in the return leg at King Zwelithini Stadium, securing a 3-2 victory to advance to the final via the away-goals rule.
The sides also met in the Betway Premiership in September, where Sundowns claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory in Durban after Teboho Mokoena curled home an 88th-minute winner.
“Knockout games are always difficult to play because you don’t know what to expect from the other teams,” Rayners admitted.
“But as a team, we know how to win games like this, especially when things become difficult. We will get our analysts to assess the game. They will give us feedback and provide information about Golden Arrows based on their last match.
“I hope we can go through to the semi-finals.”
Rayners carries significant history in the Carling Knockout. He won the inaugural edition of the competition with Stellenbosch FC, defeating TS Galaxy on penalties in Durban to secure the Winelands club their maiden trophy in the 2023/24 season.
The following season in Sundowns colors, Rayners scored in the final in Bloemfontein before Clinton Larsen’s Magesi FC struck late to snatch a 2-1 victory.
Fresh off scoring in Sundowns’ 4-1 Betway Premiership victory over Durban City at the weekend, Rayners has urged his teammates to strike early against Abafana Bes’Thende.
“For us, we always get lots of opportunities against them; we just have to make sure we punish them as early as possible. Once we score first, we know the game will open up,” he said.
“We will win the game; that is the most important thing.”
Abafana Bes’Thende are currently led by Mandla Ncikazi, who recently parted ways with Orlando Pirates. Ncikazi suffered a defeat in his opening match in charge, losing the Durban Derby against AmaZulu at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.
Despite that setback, Rayners holds immense respect for the former Maritzburg United tactician.
“We know he is a good coach,” Rayners acknowledged.
“When teams play against Sundowns, they know how to set up. For us, as a team, we just have to do our job, be confident on the ball and work as hard as possible to win the game. That is the most important thing, so we can progress to the next round.”
