Pirates seek redemption with Arrows win

Orlando Pirates will battle it out with Lamontville Golden Arrows in Tuesday's Betway Premiership encounter at the Mecca of SA football, Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Buccaneers are licking their wounds after their two-match unbeaten run was ended by their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, who claimed a 2-1 win in the Nedbank Cup final clash on 10 May. Before that, Bucs had won two games in a row.

Pirates remain second in the Betway Premiership standings - 15 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who will be crowned champions if the Buccaneers fail to defeat Arrows on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Arrows' woes in the league continued when they extended their winless run to five matches with a 2-1 defeat to Pirates in Durban on 6 May in the KwaZulu-Natal side's third consecutive loss.

Abafana Bes'thende are placed 14th in the Betway Premiership standings - three points above the relegation playoff spot, which is occupied by Cape Town City, but Arrows have two games in hand.

TEAM NEWS

Orlando Pirates have no suspension concerns coming into this encounter, but Olisa Ndah, Thabiso Lebiso, Thabiso Lebitso and Zakhele Lepasa remain sidelined as they continue their injury rehabilitation.

Golden Arrows, on the other hand, will welcome back Blessing Mchunu from suspension, but they will be without the services of their key striker Lungelo Nguse, who is nursing a long-term injury.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

"I understand that today was a big game, it's a final that we’ve lost. And tomorrow we go again because on Tuesday, we're going to face a test one more time in the league," Riveiro said.

"Now we have to beat Arrows in a few days and then play TS Galaxy, and so on. Like I said, we don't have to feel sorry. The pity party ends tomorrow morning and we start to prepare [for] the next one because it's important to win the next match after a day like today.

"We'll cry a little bit tonight, metaphorically, and tomorrow we have to regroup, we have to travel back home, we have to recover. Like I said, we cannot feel so sorry about ourselves.”

Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi

“I think in our last six matches, the only match that I thought a draw could have been a better result is Stellenbosch [FC]. I honestly think that all the other matches we played, we should have won them,” Mngqithi said.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been scoring, and I don’t know why, because some of the players that are missing the chances are the ones you’d trust the most to score. Personally, I’m not panicking. I still believe in the process, and I think this team is improving tremendously.

"The matrix and physical, and technical data are looking good. Unfortunately, when you don’t win your matches, you’ll forever have to explain what is happening, but I know we’re just a game away from turning things around.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Evidence Makgopa, Orlando Pirates: The towering centre forward has scored in each of his last two matches and he will be looking to play an instrumental role in helping the Buccaneers overcome Abafana Bes'thende.

Siyanda Mthanti, Golden Arrows: The promising attacker could be the player to inspire Abafana Bes'thende to a win, having scored against the Buccaneers on 6 May, and he has also provided three assists this season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Arrows 0-0 Pirates

2020/21 Pirates 0-0 Arrows

2020/21 Arrows 2-0 Pirates Mmodi 2

2021/22 Arrows 0-0 Pirates

2021/22 Pirates 0-0 Arrows

2022/23 Arrows 0-2 Pirates Saleng 2

2022/23 Pirates 3-1 Arrows Saleng, Dzvukamanja, Pule; Ndwandwe

2023/24 Arrows 1-2 Pirates Sibiya (pen); Maswanganyi (pen), Kimvuidi

2023/24 Pirates 7-1 Arrows Mabasa 3, Mofokeng, Dlamini, Mthethwa, Kimvuidi; Nguse