Football fans across the continent will be treated to another instalment of the Soweto Derby this weekend Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs do battle in the second semifinal of the Carling Cup starting at 12h00 same day.
The iconic FNB Stadium hosts a revamped edition of the competition, with four teams competing for the big prize in an all-day football festival.
The two fierce rivals will be fighting it out for a spot in the final, and the winner will take on the triumphant side in the semi between AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns, which kicks off earlier in the day.
Form Guide
The game comes just seven days after Pirates hoisted the MTN 8 trophy, following their 1-0 triumph over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The victory was their third in their last five games in all competitions, where they have lost once and played to a single stalemate.
The intensity will not let up heading into the tournament, as they will be looking to keep the winning momentum going ahead of the upcoming FIFA break.
To ensure that they make it to the final, the Buccaneers will have to overcome the only team that has inflicted defeat upon them in recent weeks.
Chiefs have not taken to the field since their recent Soweto Derby victory, and their two-week break between fixtures could work in their favour ahead of what is set to be a testing day of football.
They come into the tournament having endured a period of inconsistency, winning twice and drawing as many games in their last five outings, and losing their other fixture.
Team News
The starting lineup for each camp has been determined by the fan vote and according to the final numbers tallied, defender Paseka Mako and midfielder Fortune Makaringe will return to the Pirates XI.
Meanwhile, Club captain Innocent Maela is also set to make his way back from injury, having sat out the MTN 8 final after picking up an injury.
Amakhosi fans have made some changes to the team that took on the Buccaneers in the league Derby, with Njabulo and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo among those returning to the starting XI alongside Kgaogelo Sekgota and veteran defender Erick Mathoho.
Key Players
Miguel Timm (Orlando Pirates): Fresh off a Man of the Match performance in the final, Timm remains a crucial cog in the Bucs engine room where he not only provides an extra defensive layer but is also vital in transitional play with incisive passes. The 30-year-old will have a point to prove, having missed the last Soweto Derby through suspension.
Kgaogelo Sekgota (Kaizer Chiefs): Another player who will be relishing starting in the Derby is the winger, whose electrifying pace gives an extra dimension to his side’s attack. Sekgota can be deployed at either wing and is as handy down the middle, where he has made a few cameos coming off the bench.
Head-to-Head
Pirates will be out to avenge their recent league defeat at the hands of their rivals, and should draw some confidence from their record in the previous incarnation of the competition.
Since the tournament launched in 2011 with a winner-takes-all encounter between the two sides, the Buccaneers have won five of the nine Derbies played, losing the remaining four. They are also the last team to claim an out-and-out victory without the intervention of a penalty shootout, a feat they achieved when they clinched a 2-0 win at the start of the 2019/20 season.
The fixture also presents Jose Riveiro’s men an opportunity to turn things around in the Soweto Derby, having last beaten Chiefs in January 2021.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs
The second semifinal is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across Orlando Pirates’ social media platforms.
Tickets to attend the tournament are available at Ticketmaster, with one ticket earning you an all-day pass.
THIS ARTICLE WAS SOURCED FROM THE ORLANDO PIRATES WEBSITE.
