Maritzburg, AmaZulu set for provincial derby

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Mar 01, 2019. 07:58

Provincial rivals Maritzburg United and AmaZulu will meet for an Absa Premiership clash at Harry Gwala Stadium on 1 March 2019, kick-off at 20h00.

Maritzburg suffered an 11th league defeat this season when they were beaten 3-2 at Cape Town City on February 23. The KwaZulu-Natal side has lost eight of their last nine Premiership outings.

The Team of Choice has claimed just nine points from 10 home matches this season, though their last result as hosts was a 3-1 win over Polokwane City on February 8.

AmaZulu suffered their eighth defeat of the season when they were beaten 4-1 at Orlando Pirates on February 23. The result denied the Durban side a third straight win.

Usuthu have claimed nine points from 10 away matches this season, and lost three of their last four outings on the road.

In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and AmaZulu have met in 19 league matches since 2006/07. The Team of Choice has claimed nine wins compared to two for Usuthu, while eight matches have been drawn. The Pietermaritzburg side has claimed four wins from nine home matches in the rivalry, suffering just one defeat in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the King Zwelithini Stadium in October 2018, they played out a goalless stalemate. The Team of Choice is unbeaten in the last five league matches against Usuthu.

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 3-2 loss to City on February 23: Ofori, Mandela (Allie 25'), De Reuck, Xulu, Kunene, Timm, Shandu, Makaringe, Kutumela (Zakri 57'), Ndlovu, Mokate (Moseamedi 79').

AmaZulu’s line-up from their 4-1 loss to Pirates on February 23: Mbatha, M.Gumede, Sikhakhane (Ramphele 70'), P Gumede (T.Gumede 46'), Nyongo, Morton, Chawapiwa, Vilakazi, Sithebe (Darpoh 50'), Ncobeni, Ntuli.