Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will hope for a continuous ‘fighting spirit’ when his side prepares to do battle with Sekhukhune United once more, this time in the Betway Premiership at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday evening.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm (CAT, GMT+2).
CURRENT FORM
Amid securing a 1-0 win over Sekhukhune United in their first-leg MTN8 semifinal clash at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium this past Saturday, Pirates will target winning momentum against the Limpopo side in the league this week.
As it stands, Pirates occupy top spot in the Betway Premiership following a dominant 3-0 away win over Chippa United on 16 August. Along with their rise to the top, Pirates recorded a 1-1 draw alongside AmaZulu on 12 August, which came after a 2-0 win over Milford at home on the opening day of the league.
Sekhukhune, on the other hand, linger in fifth position after notching two wins from their first three league ties.
Babina Noko commenced their campaign with a 1-0 win over Durban City at home on 1 August before slumping to a 2-0 loss against Kaizer Chiefs in matchday two.
Nonetheless, the ambitious outfit bounced back in their latest Betway Premiership encounter by recording a 2-0 victory over Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 15 August.
WHAT WAS SAID
As Pirates got well acquainted with Sekhukhune this week, Bucs mentor Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed that his side anticipated a tense affair in the wake of their MTN8 assignment and that they needed to muster up a ‘fighting’ spirit against their opponents.
"We have scored, and after we tried to keep this result with discipline, with the fighting spirit, and really, even if we think that it wasn't beautiful football, but for me, it was the game that we expected,” the Pirates coach said.
“We scored. We didn't concede, and now we will feel for the second leg.
“So well done for the boys, for the discipline, and for the fighting spirit."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando Pirates: Deon Hotto – The Namibian veteran found himself on the scoresheet against Sekhukhune last time out and will go into their next tie knowing that he has Babina Noko’s number. Evergreen and full of vigour, Hotto’s versatility could be a problem for Sekhukhune this week, given his knack of picking up favourable positions in the final third.
Sekhukhune United: Daniel Cardoso – No stranger to big encounters, Cardoso sits among the most experienced players at Sekhukhune and will be trusted to marshal his defence against a fluid Bucs attack line. As a positive, Cardoso remains a threat at set-pieces, particularly at corner situations.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Games: 10
Orlando Pirates wins: 4
Sekhukhune United wins: 4
Draws: 2