Maritzburg look to bounce back in provincial derby

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Feb 16, 2018. 07:53

Maritzburg United will be looking to bounce back to form in the Absa Premiership when they host AmaZulu at Harry Gwala Stadium on 16 February 2018, kick-off at 20h00.

Maritzburg suffered their sixth league loss of the season when they were beaten 2-1 at Orlando Pirates on February 3. The KwaZulu-Natal side has claimed just one win from their last four league matches and suffered two defeats in the sequence.

The Team of Choice has claimed just 12 points from nine home matches this season, with their last two games as hosts producing a 1-0 loss to SuperSport United and a 1-1 draw with Chippa United.

AmaZulu come into this provincial derby having extended their unbeaten run to five league matches with a 2-1 home win over Durban rivals on February 3. They have claimed 11 points from a possible 15 and conceded just one goal in the sequence.

Usuthu have claimed just nine points from as many away matches this season, though their last game on the road brought them a 1-0 win at SuperSport United at the end of last month.

In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and AmaZulu have met in 17 league matches since 2006/07. The Team of Choice has claimed eight wins compared to two for Usuthu, while seven matches have been drawn. The Pietermaritzburg side has claimed three wins from eight home matches in the rivalry, suffering one defeat in the process.

When the teams meat earlier this season they played out a 1-1 draw in Durban in mid-September. It was a sixth draw in the last 10 league meetings of the KwaZulu-Natal teams.

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 2-1 loss to Pirates on February 3: Ofori, Xulu, Fransman, Onyango (Kunene 67'), Makaringe, Maboe, Ndlovu, Mekoa, Fillecia, Shandu, Mokate (Twala 46').

AmaZulu’s line-up from their 2-1 win over Arrows on February 3: Mbatha S, Gumede M, Mabiliso, Nyongo, Ouro-Akoriko, Ncube, Morton, Mnguni (Darpoh 77'), Karuru (Dlamini S 88'), Nomvethe (Ncobeni 83'), Khenyeza.