Maritzburg look to break winless streak

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Dec 12, 2018. 08:59

Maritzburg United will look to break their winless streak in the Absa Premiership when they host Black Leopards at Harry Gwala Stadium on 12 December 2018, kick-off at 19h30.

Maritzburg played to a third successive draw – and a sixth league outing without a victory – after they held Orlando Pirates 0-0 away from home on December 1. The KwaZulu-Natal club’s only win this season came at Bloemfontein Celtic in September.

The Team of Choice has claimed just five points from six home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a goalless draw with Chippa United in late November.

Leopards suffered a third successive loss (and a seventh overall) when they were beaten 1-0 in Thohoyandou by Bidvest Wits on December 1. The Limpopo side has won just once in their last 11 league outings.

Lidoda Duvha have claimed just two points from six away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 3-1 loss at Cape Town City in mid-November.

In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and Leopards have met in eight top-flight league matches since 2005/06. Lidoda Duvha have claimed three wins compared to two for the Team of Choice, while three games have been drawn. The KwaZulu-Natal side has claimed two wins from their four home matches in the rivalry, suffering one defeat in the process.

The teams last met in the 2012/13 season, with Maritzburg taking four points off Leopards from the two league clashes: a 2-2 draw in Limpopo in September 2012 and a 2-1 home win in Pietermaritzburg in March 2013.

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with Pirates on December 1: Ofori, De Reuck, Xulu, Onyango, Shandu, Makaringe, Ndlovu, Kunene, Mekoa, Zakri (Makgalwa 66’), Fileccia (Mokate 88’).

Leopards’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Wits on December 1: Muleka, Munyai, Zulu, Munganga, Katjiukua, T. Ndlovu (Hlongwane 52’), Bereng, Nene, Musonda, Kapinga, Nevhulamba (Tshepe 66’).