SuperSport look to shake off poor form

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Jan 30, 2018. 11:33

SuperSport United will look to shake off their poor form in the Absa Premiership when they host AmaZulu at Lucas Moripe Stadium on 31 January 2018, kick-off at 19h30.

SuperSport suffered a fourth defeat from their last six league matches when they were beaten 4-1 at home by Bidvest Wits on January 27. The Tshwane side has managed just one win in their last 12 league matches, claiming eight points from a possible 36 in the sequence.

Matsatsantsa have claimed just 13 points from nine home matches this season. Their last victory as hosts arrived back in late November when they defeated Ajax Cape Town 1-0.

AmaZulu have put together a three-game unbeaten streak after playing to a goalless draw away to Polokwane City on January 27. The Durban side has claimed five points from the last nine up for grabs and hasn’t conceded a goal in the sequence.

Usuthu have claimed just six points from eight away matches this season, with their only win on the road a surprise 2-1 defeat of Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane back in October last year.

In head-to-head stats, SuperSport and AmaZulu have met in 41 league matches since 1990. Matsatsantsa have claimed 19 wins compared to 13 for Usuthu, while nine matches have been drawn. The Tshwane side has won 12 of their 19 home league matches against the Durban club, suffering three defeats in the process.

The teams met earlier this month in a ‘catch-up’ match played in Durban on January 20: AmaZulu claimed a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Siyabonga Nomvethe and Ovidy Karuru. Usuthu have won 1-0 and 5-2 in their last two trips to face United away from home.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 4-1 loss to Wits on January 27: Pieterse, Kekana, Gould, Farmer, Boateng (Nhlapo 72’), Furman, Letsholonyane (Mbule 66’), Mokoena (Ngele 60’), Phala, Modiba, Nkhatha.

AmaZulu’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with Polokwane on January 27: Mbatha S, Gumede M, Mabiliso, Gumede P, Ouro-Akoriko, Ncube, Morton, Mnguni, Ncobeni (83' Dlamini S), Karuru, Abraw (Manzini 46' [Nomvethe 66']).