Pirates look to keep up great league form

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Apr 10, 2018. 16:30

Orlando Pirates will look to keep up their great Absa Premiership form when they face hosts SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on 11 April 2018, kick-off at 19h30.

SuperSport have gone five league matches without a win after suffering a 1-0 loss away to Polokwane City on April. The sequence of results has brought the Tshwane side three points from a possible 15 as they remain just above the relegation zone.

Matsatsantsa have claimed 17 points from 12 home matches this season, with their last game as hosts bringing them a goalless draw against Maritzburg United on March 3.

Pirates secured a fifth successive league win when they defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at home on the 4th of April, with Augustine Mulenga scoring the decisive goal to keep the Soweto side breathing down the necks of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers have claimed 19 points from 12 away matches this season, with their last game on the road a 2-1 win at Golden Arrows in mid-March.

In head-to-head stats, Pirates and SuperSport have met in 53 league matches since 1990. The Buccaneers have claimed 22 wins compared to 17 for Matsatsantsa, while 14 matches have been drawn. The Tshwane side has won 11 of their 26 home league matches against their Soweto counterparts, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, they played to a goalless draw in Soweto in early December 2017. Matsatsantsa are unbeaten in their last five league matches against Bucs.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 1-0 loss to Polokwane on April 4: Williams, Kekana, Gould, Egwuekwe, Bhasera, Mokoena, Letsholonyane, Webber, Phala (Nhlapo 55’), Modiba (Nkhatha 66’), Rusike.

Pirates’ line-up from their 2-1 win over Celtic on April 4: Mpontshane, Jele (Mulenga 75’), Munetsi (Gabuza 58’), Shitolo, Dube (Matlaba 65’), Mlambo, Nyatama, Maela, Lorch, Memela, Shonga.