Orlando Pirates have set camp in Durban ahead of their Betway Premiership encounter with Lamontville Golden Arrows on Tuesday night.
The Moses Mabhida Stadium hosts this crucial league encounter, originally scheduled to get underway earlier in the year. It’s all-systems-go this time around with the Buccaneers stepping on the famous turf for the first of two massive outings lined up at the World Cup venue this week.
Form Guide
The attention is fully on the midweek assignment and the three points on offer, with the Soweto Giants continuing in their quest to close the gap between themselves and the log leaders. They are 12 points adrift in second place, following a come-from-behind Soweto Derby win against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium over the weekend.
That not only handed them important points and bragging rights, but also stretched their unbeaten run on the road to four matches where they have won three and drawn just once. Another winning performance in Durban will see them hit three consecutive away wins for the first time in the ongoing season.
In their 11 league fixtures away from home, Pirates have emerged on the winning side seven times with one draw and three defeats. They stand to cross the 50-point mark in their overall tally should they overcome Arrows on Tuesday.
A combination of unpredictability and some desperation from their hosts could however make that task even trickier. Arrows come into the clash amid a run of four matches without a win, having suffered back-to-back defeats at home to AmaZulu and Stellenbosch over the past week. It’s an unwanted streak that has placed them near the basement in 14th place, also making them the worst-performing side on home soil at this point of the campaign.
They have only claimed a lowly 14 points through three wins and five draws at home, and have endured a goal drought as hosts since last finding the net in a 2-1 win over Chiefs at Moses Mabhida in March. While inspiration has been scant in recent weeks, a return to the same venue could provide a much-needed spark as they look to vanquish another Soweto Giant.
Team News
At least one change will be made to the Pirates team that lined up in Soweto on Saturday, with suspension ruling out a couple of first-team regulars.
Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi remains out as he serves the second game in his two-match suspension. He is joined on the sidelines by midfielder Thalente Mbatha who is unavailable only for this match following his caution in the Derby, which triggered a one-match ban.
Their hosts will also be missing a key member of their playing personnel in attacking midfielder Blessing Mchunu. The 25-year-old is ruled out for the fixture after picking up his fourth yellow of the season in the defeat to Stellenbosch.
Key Players
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates): So far in his short career, the teenager has displayed the ability to adapt to all sorts of challenges and faces another different prospect on his return to his home province. Mbokazi has not only proven defensively sound, but makes notable contributions on attack through his pinpoint passing from an array of angles.
Velemseni Ndwandwe (Golden Arrows): The Arrows midfield workhorse has been one of the KZN side’s most reliable players, featuring for the full 90 in each of the 19 league matches he’s appeared in this season. Ndwandwe’s relentless engine makes him a driving force in the centre of the park, capable of impacting both ends of the pitch.
Head-to-Head
With this being the first encounter between the two sides this season, their last clash may seem a distant memory, but that is likely not the case for both sets of players given the remarkable scoreline on the day. On that occasion, Pirates emerged victorious by some margin in claiming a 7-1 win, with Tshegofatso Mabasa netting three of the goals scored.
It was their fourth consecutive triumph against the Durbanites, who have now gone four years since registering a win. The Buccaneers have also rather unsurprisingly dominated the goal-scoring charts, accounting for 14 of the 17 goals scored in the six encounters since that upset at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
TV Coverage and Ticket Info
The fixture kicks off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across all Orlando Pirates social media channels.
