Stars out to claim CT City scalp

Lyle Lakay of Cape Town City FC challenged by Enocent Mkhabela of Platinum Stars during the Absa Premiership 2017/18 football match between Cape Town City FC and Platinum Stars at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town on 23 August 2017 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jan 05, 2018. 06:26

Platinum Stars will look to claim the scalp of Cape Town City in the Absa Premiership when the teams meet at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on 6 January 2017, kick-off at 20h15.

Stars ended 2017 on a high when they won 1-0 away to Bidvest Wits on December 16. The Rustenburg side has won two of their last three matches and put together a sequence of results which has brought just one defeat in eight, pushing them up and out of the relegation zone.

Dikwena have struggled to put together complete performances in home games this season, claiming just five points from seven matches. Their last home match was a 1-0 loss against Kaizer Chiefs in their penultimate match of last year.

City ended 2017 with back-to-back 1-0 wins over AmaZulu (home) and Mamelodi Sundowns (away) on December 15 and 19 respectively. The six points pushed them up to second place on the log and pegged back the Brazilians, who looked likely to sprint clear at the top of the standings.

The Citizens have claimed 11 points from a possible 21 on the road this season, though their victories at defending champions Bidvest Wits and current leaders ‘Downs demonstrates that they can beat any team on their travels.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and City have met in three league matches since the latter’s formation at the start of last season. The Citizens have claimed two wins compared to one for Dikwena. The Rustenburg side’s only home game in the rivalry ended in a 4-2 defeat in the second half of last season.

When the teams met earlier this season, City claimed a 3-1 win in Cape Town thanks to goals from Letsie Koapeng, Ayanda Patosi and Teko Modise. The defeat was one of three that Stars suffered at the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign.

Stars’ line-up from their 1-0 win over Wits on December 16: Visser, Mnguni, Sithole, Mthethwa, Zulu, Mere, Masalesa, Msomi (Mkhabela 90’), Ng'ambi, Nyanda (De Jongh 61’), Ntuli (Matlakala 83’).

City’s line-up from their 1-0 win over Sundowns on December 19: Stephens, Edmilson, Johannes, Fielies, Mkhize, Nodada, Putsche, Ngoma (Modise 46'), Lakay (Obinna 74'), Martin (Kobola 87'), Akosah-Bempah.