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Pirates look to build on momentum against Highlands

football17 January 2020 11:18| © Backpage TXT
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Gabadinho Mhango and Sifiso Mbhele © Backpagepix

Orlando Pirates will look to build on the momentum they have generated in the Absa Premiership when they host Highlands Park at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.

Pirates extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches and rose to fifth place on the log with a 1-0 home win over champions Mamelodi Sundowns on 15 January, as Frank Mhango netted for the fourth match in succession. The Buccaneers have claimed 18 points from eight home matches this season.

Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer admitted that his team was a little lucky to defeat Sundowns in midweek, but he hopes to continue seeing big numbers come to support Bucs as they look to climb up the table.

"First I have to say, the supporters now, it's great! We need this!” exclaimed the German tactician. “It's beautiful, we heard in the ear, we feel that the players come back and we made a good job without the ball and a good job with the ball but we need time. It's not all, it's very good, it's coming but we make a lot of mistakes but we'll work on this and then we come."

Highlands, meanwhile, suffered a second straight defeat (and have conceded seven goals in those two losses) when they were beaten 4-1 at home by Stellenbosch on 11 January. The Lions of the North have struggled away from home this season, picking up just seven points from a possible 27 on the road.

They have also dropped down to eighth on the log (only ahead of ninth-placed Golden Arrows on goal difference) and coach Owen Da Gama will be working his men hard on the training field to ensure they finish in the top half of the table for the second season running.

There were reports that Da Gama had resigned in the wake of the loss to Stellies, but Highlands moved quickly to dispel this during the week: “We are fully behind the coach, his vision for the team, the entire technical team and are confident of his turnaround strategy that he’s working on to redeem the club in the next coming matches,” said a club statement.

In head-to-head stats, Highlands and Pirates have met in five league matches since 2016-17. Four of the meetings have ended in draws, while the lone win has gone the way of the Buccaneers. The Soweto side has recorded two draws from as many home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Makhulong Stadium in October 2019, Pirates claimed a 1-0 away win thanks to a late strike from Tshegofatso Mabasa.

STAR PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando Pirates

Frank Mhango – The Malawian striker netted the decisive goal in the heavyweight midweek clash against Mamelodi Sundowns, bringing his scoring streak to four successive matches. He has thrived since the arrival of coach Josef Zinnbauer and will look to continue his run when Highlands come to Soweto on Saturday.

Fortune Makaringe – The midfielder was blasted by Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane for showboating during their midweek clash, yet that does not detract from the excellence of Makaringe’s performance in the ‘engine room’ - one he’ll look to repeat this weekend.

Highlands Park

Rodney Ramagalela – ‘RamaG’ has not fully settled and produced his best form since moving to Highlands Park, but the challenge of facing a team like Orlando Pirates could inspire him to produce the prolific goal-scoring antics we all know he is capable of.

Mothobi Mvala – Pirates have often been undone when defending set-pieces this season, and Highlands have one of the best attacking headers of the ball in the Mothobi Mvala. The Buccaneers will need to keep a keen eye on him at corners and free-kicks.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 Pirates 2-2 Highlands Ndoro 2 (1 pen); Khuboni (pen), Mbatha
2016/17 Highlands 0-0 Pirates
2018/19 Pirates 1-1 Highlands Shonga (pen); Shitolo (og)
2018/19 Highlands 2-2 Pirates Mahlangu, Shalulile; Lorch, Mahachi
2019/20 Highlands 0-1 Pirates Mabasa

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 2 0 2 0 3 3
Highlands 3 0 2 1 2 3

Away

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 3 1 2 0 3 2
Highlands 2 0 2 0 3 3

Total

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 5 1 4 0 6 5
Highlands 5 0 4 1 5 6

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