Stars take aim at Arrows in Bethlehem

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Dec 05, 2017. 10:45

Free State Stars will look to get the better of visitors Golden Arrows in an Absa Premiership clash at Goble Park Stadium on 6 December 2017, kick-off at 18h00.

Stars have gone four successive league matches without a win, though their last outing was a creditable 1-1 draw away to Kaizer Chiefs on November 25. The Free State side has drawn three of their last four games and haven’t quite been able to find that killer instinct.

Ea Lla Koto have performed adequately at home this season, with one win, three draws and one defeat from five turns as host. That lone home win came against Ajax Cape Town back in October - coach Luc Eymael will hope his side can register a second in this clash.

Arrows played to a second successive draw and their eighth in 12 league matches this season when they were held 2-2 at home by Cape Town City on November 25. The Durban side looked on course for a first win since September when they claimed a two-goal, but the Citizens struck back late on to secure a share of the spoils.

Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 10 points from seven away matches thus far in the 2017/18 season. Their last win on the road arrived back in September when they beat Platinum Stars 1-0 in Rustenburg.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and Arrows have met in 24 league matches since 2000/01. Ea Lla Koto have claimed nine wins compared to seven for Abafana Bes’thende, while eight matches have been draw. The Free State side has won six of their 12 home league matches against the Durban club, suffering two defeats in the process.

Last season Arrows claimed a 1-0 win in the Free State in the first half of the campaign, but Stars took revenge with a 1-0 victory in the return game in Durban. Abafana Bes’thende have won three of the teams’ last four league meetings.

Stars’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Chiefs on November 25: Sangare, Mobbie, Keita, Mbhele (Mahamutsa 41’), Phungwayo, Masehe, Vilakazi, Maphakisa (Potsane 81’), Dlamini, Jantjie, Abrahms (Mthembu 56’).

Arrows’ line-up from their 2-2 draw with City on November 25: Gumede, Dlamini (Mathiane 69’), Mngwengwe, Mzava, Nkombelo, Bilankulu, Fikizolo (Molefe 79’), Shongwe, Sibiya (Mutizwa 46’), Magubane, Lamola.