The Carling Knockout Cup continues this weekend with a number of quarter-final ties…
Richards Bay v Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates will have one eye on the Carling Knockout Cup as they travel to the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday for their quarter-final clash with a struggling Richards Bay.
While Bucs won last season’s MTN8 and Nedbank Cup as well as the MTN8 again this season, the Natal Rich Boyz’s trophy cabinet is significantly and understandably a lot smaller.
Their league form this season is not vastly different, however, with only three points separating the two sides.
Bucs are down in 13th with two wins from eight games, while Richards Bay in 15th, have one victory from their opening 10 games this season.
Jose Riveiro’s cup crusaders overcame Cape Town Spurs 2-0 in the first round of the Carling Knockout, who they since lost to in the DStv Premiership, as Kaitano Tembo’s team saw off Swallows 2-1, before losing 3-1 to Cape Town City last time out.
AmaZulu v Golden Arrows
AmaZulu will be looking for just their fourth win of the season at home to Golden Arrows on Saturday.
Pablo Franco Martin’s side have claimed just two victories from their opening 10 matches, alongside a mammoth six draws, while edging out Kaizer Chiefs in their first round cup Carling Knockout Cup clash.
They sit in ninth place on the DStv Premiership, while conversely an in-form Golden Arrows are in third with six victories from just nine games.
They also beat Amakhosi, in their last game, after a convincing 3-1 victory over Cape Town City in their first round cup encounter.
Sekhukhune United v TS Galaxy
Sekhukhune United have a chance to further improve their cup pedigree with victory over TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
They may be struggling in the league currently, but Brandon Truter’s side made it to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals last season and have qualified for this term’s group stages.
Sekhukhune are in 11th on the standings, with three wins from 10, with Galaxy in eighth, just a point better off.
And true to their struggles in the DStv Premiership, Truter’s side last lost 2-0 to the Rockets – after a 1-0 win was enough to see off Royal AM in their first round cup tie.
Galaxy, meanwhile, famously saw off Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties in their opening game in this competition, and while they overcame their upcoming opponents last week, the club’s most recent game saw them go down 3-2 to SuperSport United at home.