Kudakwashe Mahachi of Lamontville Golden Arrows is challenged by Tebogo Langerman of Mamelodi Sundowns FC during the Absa Premiership 2017/18 game between Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns at Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on 10 December 2017 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
by
Graeme Jackson
Thursday Dec 14, 2017. 10:14
Golden Arrows will look to end their Absa Premiership programme for the year with a provincial derby win over Maritzburg United at the Princess Magogo Stadium on 17 December 2017, kick-off at 15h30.
Arrows have gone nine league matches without a win after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Mamelodi Sundowns on December 10. The Durban side has lost three of their last five matches, conceding eight goals in the process.
Abafana Bes’thende’s loss to the Brazilians was their first home defeat this season, though they have only claimed seven points from a possible 18 as hosts in 2017/18. Their last home win was a 4-1 thrashing of Durban rivals AmaZulu back in mid-September.
Maritzburg saw their winning momentum come to an abrupt halt when they were beaten 1-0 at Mamelodi Sundowns on December 13. The KwaZulu-Natal side had thrashed Cape Town City 4-2 and Baroka FC 3-0 in the lead up to their trip to Tshwane.
The Team of Choice has claimed nine points from seven away matches this season. Their last away win also arrived in the KZN province, as their game against CT City was held in KwaMashu due to a lack of suitable venue in the drought-hit Western Cape.
In head-to-head stats, Arrows and Maritzburg have met in 20 league matches since 2005/06. Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 10 wins compared to five for the Team of Choice, while five matches have been drawn. The Durban side has claimed seven wins and suffered just one defeat from 10 home matches in the rivalry.
Last season Arrows took four points off Maritzburg, drawing 2-2 away in the first half of the campaign, before claiming a 1-0 home win in the return game. The Team of Choice had gone four games unbeaten against their provincial rivals until that narrow defeat last term.
Arrows’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Sundowns on December 10: Gumede, Mngwngwe, Cele, Magubane (Sibiya 55'), Dube. Mahachi, Mzava, Nkombelo, Ndwandwe (Jooste 79'), Lamola (Chideu 55'), Mutizwa.
Maritzburg’s line-up from theor 1-0 loss to Sundowns on December 13: Ofori, Xulu, Makaringe, Maboe, Fransman, Mokate (Shandu 46’), Rusike, Sanoka, Onyango (Fileccia 76’), Ndlovu, Mekoa (Kunene 76’).
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