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Bucs look to pile pressure on Stellies with Chippa win

football07 May 2024 16:49| © Backpage TXT
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Kabelo Dlamini © Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates will tussle it out with Chippa United in Wednesday's DStv Premiership encounter at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The Buccaneers maintained their scintillating form when they overcame Chippa 3-1 away in the Nedbank Cup over the weekend and they are now undefeated in seven matches across all competitions.

Pirates are occupying the third spot in the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind second-placed Stellenbosch FC with four matches left as the battle for the second spot behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns intensifies.

Meanwhile, Chippa are licking their wounds at the moment after succumbing to a defeat to Pirates and they are winless in three matches having recorded three successive defeats across all competitions.

The Chilli Boys are occupying the 10th spot in the DStv Premiership standings - three points behind seventh-placed Cape Town City as the battle to finish in the top eight hots up.

TEAM NEWS

Pirates have no suspension concerns, but the likes of Thabang Monare, Bandile Shandu, Thabiso Lebitso and Paseko Mako are out nursing their respective injuries.

Chippa, on the other hand, will be without the services of former Pirates players Craig Martin and Bienvenu Eva Nga who are both suspended, while Bucs loanee Goodman Mosele has been nursing an injury.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

"The way Chippa is going to approach [the match] is something that is not in my sight, it's something the opponents will decide," Riveiro said.

"But we were in a similar scenario a few weeks ago when we played AmaZulu in the [Nedbank Cup] quarterfinal and three days later, we hosted them in Orlando and it was a really difficult game because after this 90 minutes, we know each other even better.

"So I'm sure it's going to be a very, very tight game [against Chippa on Wednesday], that is going to be decided by very small margins."

Chippa United co-head coach Kwanele Kopo

“If you look at our last few games, we started well and then in the second half we got pinned back. Today [Saturday] we started on the front by pressing Pirates, and I think we were unfortunate in the first 10 minutes to concede a goal from a free kick," Kopo said.

“We knew where it was going but I think after that we fought our way back into the game. We felt we had a shout for a foul in the box on Sinoxolo Kwayiba, the kick by Thabiso Sesane on the trail ball when he was putting his head in, and I think when that decision was not given it set a different tone for us.

“From then on emotions got high with the players also and then we continued to press. But I felt we struggled to deal with the penetration of Pirates through the centre. I am proud of the boys."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kabelo Dlamini, Pirates: The left-footed playmaker was named Man of the Match after grabbing a brace as Bucs defeated Chippa. Dlamini will be keen to replicate the same form in this league clash.

Elmo Kambindu, Chippa United: The Namibian striker came off the bench to score his fifth goal of the season against Pirates. Kambindu will be hoping to start and propel his side to a victory in Soweto.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

LAST 10 RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2018/19 Pirates 4-2 Chippa Jele, Maphanga (og), Pule, Mahachi; Tlolane, Maela (og)

2019/20 Pirates 2-1 Chippa Mabasa 2, L. Manzini

2019/20 Chippa 1-2 Pirates Kwem; Mhango 2 (1 pen)

2020/21 Pirates 1-0 Chippa Makaringe

2020/21 Chippa 0-3 Pirates Hotto, Hanamub (og), Motshwari

2021/22 Chippa 1-3 Pirates Mahlambi; Mabasa, Mabaso, Mosele

2021/22 Pirates 0-0 Chippa

2022/23 Pirates 0-1 Chippa Banda

2022/23 Chippa 0-2 Pirates Dlamini, Lorch

2023/24 Chippa 1-1 Pirates Mosele; Shandu

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2012/13)

HOME

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 10 7 1 2 16 7

Chippa 11 2 2 7 8 17

AWAY

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 11 7 2 2 17 8

Chippa 10 2 1 7 7 16

TOTAL

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 21 14 3 4 33 15

Chippa 21 4 3 14 15 33

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