Arrows out to avoid third straight loss

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Feb 23, 2018. 09:11

Golden Arrows will look to avoid a hat-trick of Absa Premiership defeats when they host Ajax Cape Town at Princess Magogo Stadium on 25 February 2018, kick-off at 15h30.

Arrows suffered a second straight loss in the league when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Bidvest Wits on February 17. The Durban side has won just one of their last 16 league matches, picking up 12 points from a possible 48 in the sequence.

Abafana Bes’thende have claimed just 12 points from 10 home matches this season. They have won just two matches as hosts: 4-1 against AmaZulu back in September and 1-0 against SuperSport United last month.

Ajax extended their unbeaten run to three league matches with a 1-1 draw away to Polokwane City on February 4. The Cape side has claimed five points from the last nine up for grabs, keeping them in with a strong shout of avoiding relegation.

The Urban Warriors have claimed just three points from 10 away matches this season and are still awaiting their first win on the road. This is easily the worst away record in the division.

In head-to-head terms, Ajax and Arrows have clashed in 33 league matches since 2000/01. The Urban Warriors have generally enjoyed the upper hand in the rivalry, claiming 12 wins compared to seven for the Durban side. Abafana Bes’thende have won six of their 16 home league matches in the rivalry, suffering four defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season they played to a 1-1 draw in Cape Town, with Rivaldo Coetzee and Lerato Lamola scoring for Ajax and Arrows respectively. It was a fifth draw from the last seven league meetings of these teams.

Arrows’ line-up from their 2-1 loss to Wits on February 17: Mbaeva, Mzava, Mathiane, Buthelezi, Zuke, Bilankulu (Mutizwa 46'), Dlamini (Ndwandwe 46'), Nkombelo, Shongwe, Yappie (Magubane 70'), Lamola.

Ajax’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Polokwane on February 4: February, Nhlapo (Morris 74’), Booysen, Pietersen, Zwane, Margeman (Takwara 70’), Malepe, Mdabuka (Julies 46’), Sasman, Ndoro, Lakay.