Chiefs, Maritzburg renew their rivalry

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Mar 08, 2019. 15:00

Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United will renew their rivalry when the teams meet in an Absa Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on 9 March 2019, kick-off at 18h00.

Chiefs claimed their eighth victory of the season (and broke a three-game winless streak) when they defeated Highlands Park 3-2 in Durban on March 2, thanks to goals from Bernard Parker, Leonardo Castro and Dumisani Zuma.

The Amakhosi have claimed 15 points from 11 home matches this season, recording four wins, three draws and four defeats.

Maritzburg claimed a second win from their last three league matches when they defeated KwaZulu-Natal rivals AmaZulu 2-1 at home on March 1, with goals from Fortune Makaringe and Judas Moseamedi.

The Team of Choice has claimed just five points from 11 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 3-2 loss at the hands of Cape Town City on February 23.

In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and Chiefs have met in 25 league matches since 2005/06. The Amakhosi have claimed 12 wins compared to five for the Team of Choice, while eight matches have been drawn. The Soweto side has recorded eight wins, two draws and two defeats in 12 home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Harry Gwala Stadium in August 2018, they played out a goalless stalemate. The result extended Chiefs’ unbeaten run against Maritzburg to seven league matches.

Chiefs’ line-up from their 3-2 win over Highlands on March 2: Akpeyi, Moleko, Cardoso, Hadebe (Ntiyantiya 46’), Mphahlele, Maluleka, Ekstein, Zulu, Zuma (Booysen 89’), Castro, Parker (Andrianarimanana 62’).

Maritzburg’s line-up from their 2-1 win over AmaZulu on March 1: Ofori, Kunene, Xulu, Allie, Sanoka, Makaringe (Mokate 89'), Timm, Kutumela (Kateregga 70'), Ndlovu, Zakri (Moseamedi 56'), Shandu.