Second-placed Orlando Pirates will welcome Supersport United, who are fresh off the back of the CAF Confederations Cup final defeat, to Soweto on Tuesday evening knowing that a win could propel them to the summit of the PSL. Elsewhere on Tuesday, Mamelodi Sundowns will host the current-table toppers Baroka FC who currently lead the Buccaneers by a single point.
Orlando Pirates vs Supersport United
Tuesday, December 5th
Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Kick-off at 19:30 (7:30pm) local time
Milutin Sredojevic saw his side return to winning ways when they came away from the Free State with a 1-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic to end a three-game winless run in all competitions, which included defeats to title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns as well as against Polokwane City who knocked the Soweto giants out of the Telkom Knockout Cup in the quarter-finals in the space of just three days. We are already quickly approaching the halfway mark in this campaign and the Buccaneers will look for another positive result on Tuesday to keep their early ABSA Premiership charge intact. Pirates will face Baroka and Sundowns immediately after the festive break in what will be a real test of their title credentials.
Orlando Pirates recent results: (all competitions)
26/11/2017 – Bloem Celtic 0-1 Pirates (PSL)
21/11/2017 – Pirates 0-0 Arrows (PSL)
04/11/2017 – Pirates 2-2 Polokwane City* (TKO)
01/11/2017 – Pirates 1-3 Sundowns (PSL)
28/10/2017 – Arrows 0-1 Pirates (TKO)
21/10/2017 – Chiefs 0-0 Pirates (PSL)
*Polokwane City won 4-2 on penalties
Matsatsantsa fell agonisingly short at the final hurdle on their CAF Confederations Cup adventure. They were held to a goalless stalemate at home to defending champions TP Mazembe after a 2-1 first-leg defeat in the Congo. Owing to their continental commitments and appearance in the MTN8 final, Supersport have only fulfilled four league outings since the start of September with half of their fixtures postponed to later dates. With four wins from just six matches, they are only six points off the top of the table and cannot be counted out as contenders for the crown. A win on Tuesday for Eric Tinkler over one of his former employers would make it all the more sweeter and would move the Swanky Boys to within two points of Pirates.
Supersport United recent results: (all competitions)
29/11/2017 – Supersport 1-0 Ajax (PSL)
25/11/2017 – Supersport 0-0 TP Mazembe (CAF)
19/11/2017 – TP Mazembe 2-1 Supersport (CAF)
31/10/2017 – Supersport 3-0 Arrows (PSL)
28/10/2017 – Bloem Celtic 2-2 Supersport* (TKO)
22/10/2017 – Club Africain 1-3 Supersport (CAF)
*Bloemfontein Celtic won 5-4 on penalties
Pirates are winless in their last seven matches against Supersport United and have won only three of their last 14 meetings with them across the league and cup competitions since the start of 2014. This run consists of just three draws and a whopping nine losses including the Nedbank Cup final defeat in June and the 6-1 demolition of the Soweto giants in the league last season which will live long in the memory of Matsatsantsa fans. The pair drew the corresponding fixture last season, when Thembinkosi Lorch levelled for the home side after Thabo Mnyamane had put the visitors in front early in the second half.
Orlando Pirates vs Supersport United last eight: (all competitions)
24/06/2017 – Supersport 4-1 Pirates (NC)
07/03/2017 – Pirates 1-1 Supersport (PSL)
26/11/2016 – Supersport 1-0 Pirates (TKO)
01/11/2016 – Supersport 6-1 Pirates (PSL)
28/05/2016 – Supersport 3-2 Pirates (NC)
21/05/2016 – Pirates 2-2 Supersport (PSL)
12/08/2015 – Supersport 1-0 Pirates (PSL)
29/04/2015 – Pirates 4-1 Supersport (PSL)
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