United will be tough nuts in final

IT MAY not rank among the world's oldest or most renowned derbies, but the Tshwane clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United often captures raw emotion and generates passion among fans.

In what should be an exciting cup final, Sundowns will contest the Nedbank Cup honours with United at Orlando Stadium tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

Adding to the excitement is that both sides will be meeting for the first time in a cup final, both having struggled to make finals appearances in recent seasons.

United have won three trophies in the PSL era - the Bobsave Super Bowl in 1999, 2004 SAA Supa8 and the 2005 Absa Cup - which helped establish them as one of the most feared sides in the PSL.

While they have bagged three successive league titles in recent seasons, Matsatsantsa have struggled to recapture their great form in knockout competitions.

This from a team that once appeared in five successive cup finals.

In fact, it has been six solid season since United have appeared in a cup final, coming unstuck against the likes of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in numerous cup games.

Surprisingly, Sundowns have captured only two trophies, the SAA Supa8 and the Nedbank Cup, since the dawn of the PSL era.

A huge investment in players has also yielded two league titles in the past six seasons, but more startling and perhaps worrying is that the Tshwane giants last tasted cup success in 2008.

It's been United, however, who have stood between them and success, knocking them out of cup competitions at the semifinal stage on no fewer than four occasions.

United have often had the edge over Sundowns in cup games and current form suggests they will again be tough nuts to crack tomorrow.

They've drawn great mental strength from their recent 1-0 victory, which disrupted Downs' league title charge.

It should be a humdinger.