Highlands look for return to form

Sphiwe Mahlangu of Highlands Park challenged by Teenage Hadebe of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Highlands Park at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on the 02 March 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Mar 08, 2019. 11:58

Highlands Park will look for a return to peak form in the Absa Premiership when they host Baroka FC at Makhulong Stadium on 9 March 2019, kick-off at 15h30.

Highlands suffered a third defeat from their last five league matches when they were beaten 3-2 at Kaizer Chiefs on March 2. The Tembisa-based side has won just once in their last eight outings.

The Lions of the North have claimed 16 points from 10 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 win over Bidvest Wits on February 9.

Baroka saw a five-game winless streak come to an end on March 3 when they were beaten 3-1 at home by derby rivals Polokwane City. The Limpopo side has won just once in their last seven outings.

Bakgaga have claimed 12 points from 11 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 2-1 win over SuperSport United on February 23.

In head-to-head stats, Highlands and Baroka have met in three previous top-flight league matches since the 2016/17. The Lions of the North boast an unbeaten record in the rivalry, with one win and two draws to their name. That lone victory came in their only previous home game against Bakgaga, a 2-1 win in 2016/17.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in August 2018, they played out a 1-1 draw, with goals from Highlands’ Thabo Motlafi and a last-gasp equaliser from Baroka’s Ranga Chivaviro.

Highlands’ line-up from their 3-2 loss to Chiefs on March 2: Heugh, L. Mokoena, Msimango (Ndoro 73’), Fransman, Ramoraka, Mbatha (Mogaila 55’), Rae, Mvala, Mahlangu, Mbunjana (Haoseb 68’), Nyembe.

Baroka’s line-up from their 3-1 loss to Polokwane on March 3: Chipezeze, Makume, Semenya, Mongae, Mapheto, Chinyengetere (Mosele 58’), Makgantai (Dickens 58’), Mdantsane, Mabeba, Madigoe (Sodi 66’), Makgaka.