Absa Premiership – Orlando Pirates vs. Mpumalanga Black Aces
Date: 2 April 2014
Time: 19:30
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Orlando Pirates have had a good run under new coach, Vladimir Vermezovic, and look set to continue good form when they tackle Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Orlando Stadium later tonight. AmaZayoni have been one of the on-form teams in recent games and could be up for an upset after holding the Buccaneers to a 1all draw in the first round PSL fixture.
ORLANDO PIRATES:
Averages per game for the season:
Shots on goal: 17.2
Entries into final third: 71.1
Successful passes: 345.4
Possession: 52.3%
Successful tackles: 26.3
Last three results:
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Moroka Swallows (Segolela 12’)
Santos 0-2 Orlando Pirates (Bacela 29, Mahamutsa 65’)
Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-1 Orlando Pirates (Myeni 23’)
Key performers:
Defender: Thabo Matlaba, 3.7 tackles per game
Midfielder: Oupa Manyisa, 49.2 passes per game
Striker: Kermit Erasmus, 4.3 shots per game
Top goal scorer:
Lennox Bacela (12)
Top assists:
Daine Klate (7)
MPUMALANGA BLACK ACES:
Averages per game for the season:
Shots on goal: 16.2
Entries into final third: 72.6
Successful passes: 352
Possession: 49.9%
Successful tackles: 26.4
Last three results:
Ajax Cape Town 0-2 Mpumalanga Black Aces (Ndoro 2’, 79’)
Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-1 Orlando Pirates (Ngalo 32’)
Mpumalanga Black Aces 5-2 Moroka Swallows (Ndoro 23’, 69’, 75’, Timm 45’, Nale 83’)
Key performers:
Defender: Abel Mabaso 3.1 tackles per game
Midfielder: Sandile Zuke, 43.7 passes per game
Forward/Striker: Mabhuti Khenyeza, 4.9 shots per game
Top goal scorer:
Tendai Ndoro (6)
Top Assists:
Thabo Qalinge (6)
Key Stats:
With both teams dominating stats over each at certain times, it is interesting to see who will come out tops at the end of the 90 minutes. Former Orlando Pirates man, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, has joined the Aces camp, and could be just the man to unlock the Pirates' defence he knows so well after spending over five seasons at Mayfair.
