Friday Aug 02, 2019. 13:13
Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United will open their 2019/20 Absa Premiership campaigns with a KwaZulu-Natal derby at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday 4 August 2019, kick-off at 15h00.
Arrows ended last season with a 1-0 loss at home to Bidvest Wits on May 11, a result which saw them end in 10th place on the log. They recorded eight wins, 12 draws and 10 defeats for a haul of 36 points.
Abafana Bes’thende claimed 21 points from 15 home matches last season: P15 W6 D3 L6.
Maritzburg ended last season with a 1-1 draw away to Baroka FC, a result which saw them finish second from bottom on the log. They entered the promotion playoffs and ended top of the mini league ahead of Royal Eagles and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila to ensure top-flight football for 2019/20.
The Team of Choice claimed just nine points from 15 away matches last season, only winning on the road against Bloemfontein Celtic and Black Leopards.
In head-to-head stats, Arrows and Maritzburg have met in 24 league matches since 2005/06. Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 12 wins compared to five for the Team of Choice, while seven matches have been drawn. The Durban side has claimed eight wins and suffered just one defeat from 12 home matches in the rivalry.
Last season Arrows completed a league ‘double’ over United, winning 2-0 in Pietermaritzburg in August 2018 and 2-0 in Durban in January 2019 – Zimbabwean forward Knox Mutizwa scored a goal in each match, and has netted three times in the last five meetings of the teams.
Arrows’ line-up from their 2-0 win over Maritzburg on January 6: Gumede, Sibisi, Mathiane, Mzava, Lunga, Venter (Bilankulu 74’), Phiri, Parusnath (Conco 60’), Jooste, Mutizwa (Moreira 46’), Lamola.
Maritzburg’s line-up from their 2-0 loss to Arrows on January 6: Ofori, Shandu (Masegela 82’), Onyango, Xulu, Thlone, Mekoa, Matsi, Ndlovu (Sanoka 63’), Kunene, Atouba, Fileccia (Makgalwa 63’).
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