Stars look for home comforts

by Staff Reporter

Monday Aug 27, 2018. 10:49

Free State Stars will target a home Absa Premiership win when they welcome Cape Town City to Goble Park on 29 August 2018, kick-off at 19h30.

Stars suffered their second defeat in the space of three league games when they were beaten 2-1 at AmaZulu on August 19. The Free State side held an early lead, but ended up conceding the decisive goal late in the clash.

Ea Lla Koto’s only previous home match this season brought them a 2-1 home win over Maritzburg United on August 8 thanks to goals from Harris Tchilimbou and Goodman Dlamini.

City come into the game having played to a goalless stalemate at home to Golden Arrows on August 18, their first draw of the 2018/19 league season.

The Citizens’ only away game so far this campaign brought them a 2-1 loss at the hands of Baroka FC in the Limpopo province, though the game did at least feature a first goal for Siphelele Mthembu.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and City have met in four league since 2016/17. The record is dead-even between the teams: two wins apiece, two goals scored, two conceded. Ea Lla Koto boast a 100 percent record as hosts in the rivalry with two wins to their name.

Last season the Cape side claimed a 1-0 win at home in the first half of the campaign (thanks to a goal from Taariq Fielies) but the Free Staters claimed revenge with a victory by the same score in the return game (with a strike from Harris Tchilimbou).

Stars’ line-up from their 2-1 loss to AmaZulu on August 19: Kwizera, Mobbie, Tema, Keita, Makhaula, Masehe, Gandze (Bhengu 90’), Jantjie (Jappie 62’), Dlamini (Maruping 75’), Rodgers, Tchilimbou.

City’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with Arrows on August 18: Leeuwenbergh, Mkhize, Fielies, Kouadja, Seedat, Putsche, Patosi (Akosah-Bempah 80’), Nodada, Ralani (Norodien 62’), Martin, Rusike (Links 72’).