Rodney Ramagalela of Polokwane City and Happy Jele of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game between Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane the on 06 Novermber 2018 © Kabelo Leputu/BackpagePix
by
Graeme Jackson
Friday May 10, 2019. 12:29
Orlando Pirates will look to claim the Absa Premiership title when they end their season with a clash at home to Polokwane City on 11 May 2019, kick-off at 15h00.
Pirates’ title hopes suffered a blow when they were held 2-2 away to Cape Town City on May 4, a result which ended a four-game winning run for the Soweto giants. However, they remain the trophy hunt and will hope to end the day as champions.
The Buccaneers have claimed 25 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 win over Free State Stars in mid-April.
Polokwane suffered their seventh defeat of the season (and a second from their last three matches) when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Chippa United on May 4. Despite the result, the Limpopo side will finish inside the top six.
Rise and Shine have claimed 22 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 2-0 win at Highlands Park in late April.
In head-to-head stats, City and Pirates have met in 11 league matches since 2013/14. The Buccaneers have claimed four wins compared to one for Rise and Shine, while no less than six matches have been drawn. The Soweto side boasts an unbeaten home record in the rivalry, with two wins and three draws from five turns as hosts.
When the teams met earlier this season, at Peter Mokaba Stadium in November 2018, Pirates claimed a 2-1 away win over Polokwane thanks to goals from Marcelo and Justin Shonga. The result broke a run of six straight draws between the teams.
Pirates’ line-up from their 2-2 draw with Cape Town City on May 4: Sandilands, Jele, Munetsi, Maela (Qalinge 90'), Nyatama, Motshwari, Dube (Mulenga 87'), Pule, Memela (Mlambo 75'), Lorch, Shonga.
Polokwane’s line-up from their 3-1 loss to Chippa on May 4: Chigova, Mvelase (Mashumba 68’), Nkili, Motlaung, Mbonani, Seabi (Mpambaniso 69’), J. Maluleke, Manaka, Musona (Mngomezulu 60’), Anas, Tlolane.
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