Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates celebrates goal with teammates during Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards on 21 December 2019 at Orlando Stadium, Pic BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates vs Highlands Park: PSL live scores, kick-off time, prediction and preview
Orlando Pirates look to maintain their good form as they host Highlands Park at Orlando Stadium. Here’s what you need to know.
Gabadinho Mhango of Orlando Pirates celebrates goal with teammates during Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards on 21 December 2019 at Orlando Stadium, Pic BackpagePix
Orlando Stadium hosts its second game in under 72 hours as the Buccaneers welcome Highlands Park on Saturday evening.
Josef Zinnbauer picked up his biggest result since taking over Orlando Pirates coach as Pirates beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 on Wednesday. Gabadinho Mhango netted the winner to take his season tally to 11 league goals.
“I think it was a good game for both teams but we have a little more luck, we need the luck and I think in the end of the time we make a good work [sic] about a really good team from Sundowns,” Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV after the game.
Modest as he was, the German coach had a point. Anele Ngcongca spurned a golden opportunity for Sundowns when he headed against the post. Later on, Gaston Sirino’s long-range shot hit one upright and then the other, somehow failing to cross the line.
This showed that Orlando Pirates still have work to do on defence, but they can overall be pleased with an intelligent performance which castrated a domineering Masandawana midfield.
Their next opponents come to Soweto in a vulnerable state. Although they occupy eighth position on the table at the time of writing, Highlands Park are in poor form.
The Lions of the North have lost their last two games 3-0 to Kaizer Chiefs and 4-1 at home to Stellenbosch and coach Owen da Gama recently had to deny rumours that he had resigned.
“The coach is still here for a very long time [laughs]. It’s going to take me three, four years to build a very good team. And we are on that journey. It’s not a destiny, it’s a journey. It’s not two matches, it’s a journey,” he said.
“Last year Chiefs had four senior players out and they couldn’t even make the top eight. I’ve got seven players out. Please man.”
Kick-off time and prediction
Kick-off time: 18 January, 18:00
Prediction: Orlando Pirates are odds-on favourites with a 56% chance of winning, but only win 36% of fixtures at these odds.
Nevertheless, Pirates are likely to claim all three points against Highlands Park, who are rated as having a 25% chance of victory. The Lions of the North only win 14% of games at these odds.
