Pirates look to continue strong form

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Jan 21, 2019. 15:00

Orlando Pirates will look to continue their strong form in the Absa Premiership when they host Baroka FC at Orlando Stadium on 22 January 2019, kick-off at 19h30.

Pirates extended their unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches with a 4-2 home win over Chippa United on January 8. The Soweto giants scored via Happy Jele, Vincent Pule, Kudakwashi Mahachi and a Phetso Maphanga own goal.

The Buccaneers have claimed 13 points from eight home matches this season. The only team to beat Pirates in their own back yard was Bidvest Wits back in August.

Baroka played to their sixth draw of the season when they held Cape Town City 2-2 away on January 12. The Limpopo side were just five minutes and added time away from victory in the ‘Mother City’.

Bakgaga have claimed eight points from their nine away matches this season. After five successive losses on the road, they are unbeaten in their last four matches outside the Limpopo province.

In head-to-head stats, Baroka and Pirates have met in five league matches since 2016/17. The Buccaneers boast an unbeaten record, with two wins and three draws in the sequence. The Soweto side has recorded one win and one draw from their two home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in September 2018, Pirates claimed a 2-1 away win thanks to goals from Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch.

Pirates’ line-up from their 4-2 win over Chippa on January 8: Mpontshane, Mbekile, Munetsi, Jele, Ndengane, Maela, Pule, Nyatama (Makola 61’), Mlambo, Lorch (Shonga 86’), Mulenga (Mahachi 83’).

Baroka’s line-up from their 2-2 draw with City on January 12: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Semenya, Sibiya, Gebhardt, Mabeba (Chawapiwa 66’), Madigoe, Mosele, Makgaga, Sodi, Dickens (Madubanya 82’).