Unbeaten duo meet in Polokwane

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Oct 17, 2017. 12:40

The only unbeaten teams in this season’s Absa Premiership - Baroka FC and Golden Arrows - will meet at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 18 October 2017, kick-off at 19h30.

Baroka opened up a gap at the top of the log as they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 away on September 30. The Limpopo side came from a goal down to defeat the Soweto giants in Durban thanks to strikes from Lewis Macha and Gift Motupa.

Bakgaga, despite their excellent form, have managed just one win at home this season and will hoping to claim another three-pointer in the Limpopo province. Their only win as hosts was a 1-0 victory over Free State Stars in mid-September.

Arrows retained their unbeaten record in the league when they were held 1-1 at home by Chippa United on September 30. The Durban side had to fight back from a goal down to salvage a share of the spoils, with Knox Mutizwa scoring their equaliser against the Chilli Boys.

Abafana Bes’thende have performed strongly away from home thus far in 2017/18, with two wins and two draws from four games. Their victories arrived in Johannesburg and Rustenburg against Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars respectively.

In head-to-head stats, Baroka and Arrows have met in just two previous league matches. Both of those encounters took place last season, with the teams drawing 1-1 in the Limpopo province before Abafana Bes’thende won a five-goal thriller 3-2 in the return game in Durban.

Baroka’s line-up from their 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs on September 30: Vries, Shaku, Matloga (Ngalande 46'), Ntshangase (Motupa 46'), Banda, Moeti, Masenamela, Mothupa, Madubanya, Mdantsane, Macha (Mahashe 74').

Arrows’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Chippa on September 30: Gumede, Dube, Mngwenge, Mzava, Nkombelo, Bilankulu, Cele (Mutizwa 58'), Sibiya, Mahachi, Magubane (Jooste 78'), Lamola.