SUPERSPORT SEEK REVIVAL AGAINST PIRATES
SuperSport United will face off with Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm.
Matsatsantsa are wounded at the moment having lost their last two games. A 1-0 away defeat to Polokwane City in a league game on Wednesday was followed by a 1-0 loss to Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in the Caf Confederation Cup match in Machakos over the weekend.
SuperSport are placed 14th on the league standings with 27 points from 25 games. They are only three points above the relegation play-off zone with five matches left.
Meanwhile, Pirates are in blistering form having recorded five consecutive wins in the league. They secured a 2-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at home in their most recent league encounter on Wednesday.
As a result, Absa Premiership title-chasing Bucs remained second on the league standings with 45 points from 25 games. They are four points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Previous starting line-ups
SuperSport United: Pieterse, Nhlapo, Gould, Egwuekwe, Boateng, Furman, Webber, Le Roux, Mokeke, Mbule, Phala.
Orlando Pirates: Mpontshane, Jele, Shitolo, Dube, Maela, Nyatama, Mlambo, Munetsi, Memela, Lorch, Shonga.
Head-to-Head
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2012/13 Pirates 1-0 SuperSport Manyisa
2013/14 Pirates 1-2 SuperSport Jele; Niang, Ndlovu
2013/14 SuperSport 1-0 Pirates Grobler
2014/15 SuperSport 1-2 Pirates Phala; Sarr, Myeni
2014/15 Pirates 4-1 SuperSport M. Masuku 2, Erasmus, Myeni; Phala
2015/16 SuperSport 1-0 Pirates Boxall
2015/16 Pirates 2-2 SuperSport Myeni, Makola; Grobler, Farmer
2016/17 SuperSport 6-1 Pirates Letsholonyane, Boxall 2, Phala, Grobler, Brockie (pen); Ndoro
2016/17 Pirates 1-1 SuperSport Lorch; Mnyamane
2017/18 Pirates 0-0 SuperSport
LEAGUE RECORD (since 1990)
Home
P W D L GF GA
SuperSport 26 11 5 10 34 31
Pirates 27 12 9 6 38 20
Away
P W D L GF GA
SuperSport 27 6 9 12 20 38
Pirates 26 10 5 11 31 34
Total
P W D L GF GA
SuperSport 53 17 14 22 54 69
Pirates 53 22 14 17 69 54
What the teams are saying:
SuperSport United caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo
“We always have to be positive because we are in this situation. We have to pick ourselves up and motivate the players and keep pushing.
“We are trying by all means to focus on our remaining matches. We take it game by game and not try put ourselves under pressure.
“We know where we are and we know what we need to do to get out of the situation. It’s also about getting that win and maybe that will take us out of the situation we are in.”
Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin Sredojevic
“We know that at present‚ things aren’t in our hands (league title race). Whatever it is that we have in our hands that’s in line with our destiny – we’ll approach the last five games like a cup final.
“I am happy that we’re in a position that will be leading us to Africa because the continent is missing Orlando Pirates. We shall do anything possible in the next five matches in order to achieve that goal.
“We also have to bear in mind that last year’s Caf Confederation Cup finalists (SuperSport United) lie in wait and that’s going to be a top challenge.”
SuperSport United key players
Dean Furman: The hard-tackling central midfielder remains a key player in SuperSport midfield. The Matsatsantsa captain will be hoping to lead his side to victory over the Buccaneers which would end their winless run.
Thuso Phala: The SuperSport forward is one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) because of his speed and trickery. The experienced attacker has the ability to inspire Matsatsantsa to victory in Mbombela.
Orlando Pirates key players
Musa Nyatama: The midfielder, who was recently named Absa Premiership Player of the Month for March 2018, is in good form at the moment. The Pirates midfield maestro will be eager to inspire his side to victory over SuperSport.
Augustine Mulenga: The Zambian forward is brimming with confidence having opened his scoring account at Pirates during their win over Bloemfontein Celtic last weekend. The skillful striker will look to score again and help his side humble Matsatsantsa.
