In the upcoming Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town Spurs match, Orlando Pirates are at home seeking nothing but revenge as they welcome Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday night. The Buccaneers are out looking to maintain their winning run against coach Ernst Middendorp’s men from the Mother City. Looking at the visitors, Spurs are also in high spirits and will also look to retain their winning run. Pirates are fresh from a 1-0 win over Polokwane City while the PSL returnees, Spurs managed to beat TS Galaxy 2-0 last weekend.
Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town Spurs: Match Details
Date: March 06, 2024
Time: 7:30 PM SAST
Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Pirates: The Buccaneers are looking for revenge against Spurs
The Soweto giants welcome the Mother City-based club in what can be seen as a match that they will want to win at all costs. Pirates are still licking their wounds from the loss in the first round. Coached by Jose Riveiro, Pirates were stunned via a 2-1 score margin in the reverse fixture. However, coach Riveiro will bank on the resurgence of striker Evidence Makgopa who was on the scoresheet last weekend.
Spurs: The Mother City side looking for a double over Pirates
The Ikamva-based PSL returnees, Spurs are out to register their second win in a row but they will have their work cut out against an in-form Pirates. Looking at the previous encounter between the two sides, Spurs netted through Lubeni Haukumongo and Jerrod Marrodie. Sitting at the bottom of the log table with 10 points from 18 games means Spurs will head to Soweto eyeing to also rescue their PSL status. Meanwhile, the hosts are comfortably placed at number five with 29 points from the same number of games.
Key Battles to Watch
Ashley Cupido vs Innocent Maela:
Cupido will be key for Spurs as they want to bolster their PSL survival hopes against Pirates. The talented forward will also want to prove his worth against the Soweto-based side. The 22-year-old was also on target against Galaxy and will look to cause all sorts of trouble for Pirates.
For the hosts, veteran left-back Innocent Maela is expected to wear the captain’s armband and lead Pirates to another win. Having just returned from a lengthy injury, Maela will also hope to cement his place and make crucial stops ahead of the Soweto Derby.
Evidence Makgopa vs Rafiq De Goede:
There is no doubt that Makgopa is enjoying his best form and he will be tasked with unlocking the opposing defence. The lanky Bafana Bafana hitman, Makgopa was a livewire against Mamelodi Sundowns and will look to be on the scoresheet against Spurs. For the visiting outfit, De Goede will look to test himself against the big guns and his height will be key to neutralise the likes of Makgopa.
Jose Riveiro vs Ernst Middendorp:
One can call it the battle of Europeans when it comes to the coaches. Middendorp hails from Germany while Riveiro boasts European expertise from Spain. The two coaches will meet for the first time in South African football. With Middendorp tasked with saving the Urban Warriors’ status, he will have to prove his worth against Pirates in Soweto.
Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town Spurs Head-to-Head
Judging the previous meetings between the two clubs, Pirates have the upper hand. Pirates and Spurs have met on 19 occasions and the odds favour the hosts. Pirates have 11 wins while Spurs have three. The other five encounters ended in a stalemate.
Here’s a look at their recent history:
- Last 5 Matches:
- Orlando Pirates Wins: 11
- Draws: 5
- Cape Town Spurs Wins: 3
- Total Goals (Last 5 Matches):
- Orlando Pirates: 6
- Cape Town Spurs: 5
- Biggest Orlando Pirates Win: 2-0
- Biggest Cape Town Spurs Win: 3-0
Fan Sentiments
As Orlando Pirates are at home, the scale favours them as they are one of the best sides enjoying the best form in the South African top flight. While Spurs are capable of causing an upset, it remains to be seen if their 2-1 win in the first round was a fluke or not.
Orlando Pirates vs Cape Town Spurs Match Prediction
While this clash could not be easily predicted, Pirates have all the best chances to win this encounter as they are at home. At the same time, Middendorp has assembled a good side that can unsettle the big guns.
