SuperSport United will play one of their biggest matches when they host Orlando Pirates in a very crucial Betway Premiership encounter on Tuesday night.
The match is set to take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, with kick-off scheduled for 7.30pm. The significance of the match is massive for Matsatsantsa a Pitori, who are in desperate need of points to escape the dreaded relegation axe.
Six wins in 25 matches
The three-time PSL champions are languishing at number 14 on the league table, with three rounds of matches left for them to conclude what has been a season to forget in their existence. They have registered a mere six wins in 25 matches, scoring a paltry 17 goals in the process.
So, a victory over the Buccaneers, who are blowing hot and cold in these latter stages of the league race, will see United jumping to position 12 due to a slightly better goal difference.
Part of United’s frustrations this season has been their struggle to score goals regularly. In their last match against Stellenbosch, they needed a helping hand via an own goal from Devon Titus to reduce the scoreline in that 2-1 loss in Cape Town.
Their marksman, Brad Grobler, has been plagued by injuries, and age is no longer on his side. The 37-year-old has only scored four times this season, a far cry from the double figures that he usually grabs almost every season. This means that Christian Basomboli and Grobler will have to bring their A-game against the Buccaneers if they want to avoid the chop to the first division.
Bucs dropped two valuable points
On Saturday, the Buccaneers dropped two valuable points against TS Galaxy, who ended Pirates’ party with a late, sucker-punch goal in the referee’s optional time. Bucs were leading 1-0 at that point. And their legions of fans were already celebrating a victory at their slaughterhouse, Orlando Stadium.
It looked as if the hosts would come away with maximum points as the final whistle drew close. However, the Mpumalanga outfit had other ideas. They finally found a way past the Bucs defence with a last-gasp strike from midfielder Mpho Mvelase, who fired in from close range to make it 1-1.
Dramatic stalemate
That was the final score in the end, as the two sides played to a dramatic stalemate. That was their first since they first locked horns in the 2020/21 campaign.
Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mashego are the dangermen to watch from the Buccaneers. They have been giving a lot of clubs problems in the league and in cup tournaments in this campaign.
