Arrows out to claim Pirates’ scalp

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Mar 01, 2019. 11:00

Golden Arrows will look to claim the scalp of Orlando Pirates when the teams meet for an Absa Premiership clash at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on 2 March 2019, kick-off at 20h15.

Arrows played to their 10th league draw of the season when they were held 1-1 away to Chippa United on February 22. Knox Mutizwa scored his fourth goal from the Durban side’s last six Premiership outings.

Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 14 points from 10 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 3-2 loss at the hands of SuperSport United on February 10.

Pirates broke a three-game winless run in the league by thrashing AmaZulu 4-1 at home on February 23, with goals from Kuda Mahachi, Luvoyo Memela, Justin Shonga and Ben Motshwari.

The Buccaneers have claimed 19 points from 11 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 1-0 loss at SuperSport United on February 20.

In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Arrows have met in 35 league matches since 2000/01. The Buccaneers have claimed 19 wins compared to six for Abafana Bes’thende, while 10 matches have been drawn. The Durban side has won four of their 17 home league matches against their Soweto counterparts, suffering nine defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Orlando Stadium in October 2018, they played out a goalless stalemate.

Arrows’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Chippa on February 22: Gumede, Bilankulu Mzava, Sibisi, Lunga, Phiri, Venter, Parusnath (Nkombelo 66'), Ndwandwe (Jooste 82'), Lamola (Sabelo 70'), Mutizwa.

Pirates’ line-up from their 4-1 win over AmaZulu on February 23: Sandilands, Ndengane, Munetsi, Maela, Motshwari, Nyatama, Memela (Mulenga 61'), Pule (Mbekile 66'), Mahachi (Makola 76'), Lorch, Shonga.