Arrows welcome wounded Buccaneers

Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates

Friday Mar 06, 2020. 05:00

Golden Arrows will welcome a wounded Orlando Pirates team for an Absa Premiership clash at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday 7 March 2020, kick-off at 18h00.

Arrows extended their unbeaten run in the league to three matches by playing to a 1-1 draw at home to Highlands Park on February 29, with Lerato Lamola netting their goal. Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 21 points from 11 home matches this season.

Pirates, meanwhile, saw their 10-game unbeaten run in the league come to a halt with a 1-0 home loss at the hands of arch rivals and log leaders Kaizer Chiefs on February 29. The Buccaneers have claimed 15 points from 11 matches on the road this campaign.

In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Arrows have met in 37 league matches since 2000/01. The Buccaneers have claimed 20 wins compared to six for Abafana Bes’thende, while 11 matches have been drawn. The Durban side has won four of their 18 home league matches against their Soweto counterparts, suffering 10 defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Orlando Stadium in August 2019, they played out a goalless draw. The last five league meetings of Arrows and Pirates have produced just four goals.

Arrows’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Highlands on February 29: Mlungwana, Lunga, Mathiane, Sibisi, Dube, Shitolo, Phiri, Makhubela (Parusnath 79′), Mtshali (Sibiya 70′), Mutizwa, Lamola (M.Gumede 73′).

Pirates’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Chiefs on February 29: Sandilands, Jele, Nyauza, Maela, Dube (Mako 71), Motshwari, Makaringe (Dlamini 81′), Pule, Lorch, Memela (Mabasa 81′), Mhango.

Head-to-head