Wednesday sees the latest episode in the Betway Premiership title race played out as Mamelodi Sundowns host Golden Arrows and Orlando Pirates visit Polokwane City
Polokwane City v Orlando Pirates
Polokwane City are back in the top half of the standings after a 2-0 away win at Magesi last weekend. Prior to that they played out back to back draws in home games, against Orbit College (2-2) and Siwelele (0-0). Polokwane are unbeaten at home in the league this season with 3 wins and 6 draws.
After a jolt to their season with a league defeat to Sundowns and shock Nedbank Cup exit Pirates bounced back in the Soweto derby with Chiefs on Saturday and in some style, eunning out 3-0 winners. The margin of that victory saw Pirates regain top spot from Sundowns with both sides on 41 points and Pirates have a marginally better goal difference (+22 versus +21). Both sides have played 18 games and although there is a long way to go it’s shaping into a two horse race for the title.
The aforementioned loss to Sundowns ended a Betway Premiership unbeaten run of 14 matches (12 wins and 2 draws) for Pirates who have kept a clean sheet in 7 of their last 8 league outings.
The Verdict:
Pirates have already beaten Polokwane twice this season, 2-0 in the MTN8 and 1-0 in the first league meeting. Both those games were staged in Orlando and the Bucs are now tasked with ending Polokwane’s unbeaten home record in the Betway Premiership.
Polokwane have conceded just 5 league goals in 9 home games but with the feel good factor restored after the derby win, I’m with Pirates to score at least twice here.
Bet: Pirates total goals over 1.5 at 5/4 with Betway
Sundowns v Golden Arrows
Sundowns were 3-1 winners at home to Sekhukhune on Sunday and they are now unbeaten in their last 9 league games, a run comprising of 7 wins and 2 draws. Their only league defeat this season came against Wednesday’s opponents Golden Arrows who came out on top 1-0 when the teams met in KZN back on the 24th September. Sundowns have also progressed in the CAF Champions League but they were another big gun on the wrong end of a shock result in the Nedbank Cup recently when they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at TS Galaxy.
At the time of writing Arrows were in tenth place with 21 points from 18 games. They have struggled away from home with just 1 win, 2 draws and 6 defeats and that sole away win came last month, 2-0 at Magesi. Most recently Arrows drew 0-0 at home to Chippa in the league but they are still involved in the Nedbank Cup.
The Verdict:
Arrows away record has to be a concern but they will take heart from having beaten Sundowns earlier in the campaign. I’ll go with Sundowns but only by the minimum margin.
Bet: Winning margin, Sundowns by 1 goal exactly at 27/10 with Betway
Note, odds are subject to change