Highlands, Chiefs set for Makhulong clash

by Staff Reporter

Friday Aug 02, 2019. 13:05

Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs will open their 2019/20 Absa Premiership campaigns with a clash at the Makhulong Stadium on Sunday 4 August 2019, kick-off at 15h00.

Highlands ended last season with a 2-0 win away to SuperSport United, a result which saw them finish in seventh place on the log. They recorded nine wins, 14 draws and seven defeats for a haul of 41 points.

The Lions of the North claimed 26 points from 15 home matches last term, losing only to AmaZulu, Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City as hosts.

Chiefs ended last season with a 1-0 loss away to Chippa United, a result which saw them finish in ninth place on the log. They recorded nine wins, 12 draws and nine defeats for a haul of 39 points.

The Amakhosi claimed 19 points away from home last season. Their only four wins on the road came against Cape Town City, Free State Stars, Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu.

In head-to-head stats, Highlands and Chiefs have met in four league matches since the 2016/17 season. The Amakhosi boast an unbeaten record against the Lions of the North, with three wins and one draw in the sequence. The Tembisa-based side has recorded one draw and one defeat from their two home matches in the rivalry.

Last season Chiefs took four points off Highlands, with the teams’ first meeting in October 2018 ending 0-0, before the return game in Durban in March 2019 saw the Amakhosi win 3-2, thanks to goals from Bernard Parker, Leonardo Castro and Dumisani Zuma.

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.

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’).