Orlando Pirates will aim to narrow the gap at the top of the Betway Premiership standings as they face Golden Arrows in an important midweek clash on Wednesday.
This match comes on the heels of the Buccaneers’ solid performance last weekend, where they sealed their spot in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup with a 3-1 victory over Motsepe Championship side Baroka FC.
Form Guide
The Sowetans are determined to keep their title challenge alive in the Premier Soccer League as they take on Golden Arrows. Currently, Jose Riveiro’s chargers have suffered just three losses from their fourteen topflight appearances this season, enough to see them occupy second place.
On the other hand, Golden Arrows are eager for a positive result to boost their hopes of securing a top half finish. Despite a promising start to the season, Abafana Bes’thende have struggled to maintain consistency and come into this clash with just a single league win from their previous five league fixtures.
Player Spotlight
Tshegofatso Mabasa stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick against Baroka FC, marking his second of the season and bringing his career tally for Orlando Pirates to 44 goals.
With his incredible turn in form during recent years, Mabasa has now surpassed Phumlani Mkhize and the late Lesley Manyathela, both of whom were tied at 41 goals. He now sits second on Pirates’ all-time scoring list, just behind Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi, who holds the record with 58 goals.
Mabasa has set his sights on becoming the club’s all-time top scorer, and his performance against Baroka FC has boosted his season total to 12 goals and one assist from 30 appearances across all competitions. This hat-trick follows his earlier one in an 8-1 victory over Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership.
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 19:30 on Wednesday, 19 February and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary. The match will be broadcast live on satellite TV giants SuperSport channel 202 and can be streamed on Showmax.
Mpumalanga Stadium
The 3 000 seater stadium will host the clash between Golden Arrows and Orlando Pirates. The Hammarsdale based stadium is a prominent sports venue in the region and serves as the home ground for the Lamontville Golden Arrows, competing in the Betway PSL.
The stadium is located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Durban and is situated just a few minutes away from local amenities such as the Hammarsdale Mall and Elangeni College campus.
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Golden Arrows 54/10 | Draw 24/10 | Orlando Pirates 13/20
José Riveiro will be looking for a strong response from his team as they look to regain their momentum in the title race.
I think the play is Pirates and over 2.5 goals at 21/20.