It’s the final day of the season on Saturday and Orlando Pirates have one last shot at clinching the Betway Premiership title when they visit relegation threatened Orbit College
Orbit College
Orbit College come into the final round of matches (which all share the same kick off time) second bottom in the standings, the relegation play off place. They are 3 points better off than Magesi who are bottom of the standings and as it stands would go down automatically. However Orbit College have a worse goal difference and if they lose here they could still be caught if Magesi win at home to Richards Bay. Looking up College are behind Marumo Gallants (home to Stellenbosch) on goal difference and they are 1 point shy of Chippa United (away to Kaizer Chiefs).
Last weekend Orbit went down 2-0 away to Stellenbosch but in their 3 games prior to that they had shown plenty of fight in a draw at Durban City (1-1), a win at Magesi (2-1) and a draw at home to Amazulu (0-0).
Orlando Pirates
Pirates haven’t won the league title since 2012 and they missed a golden opportunity to take the crown last weekend when they played out a 0-0 draw at home to Durban City. Victory would have moved Pirates to the top of the log above Sundowns on goal difference and Downs have finished their campaign. Now the gap to Sundowns is 2 points, goal difference is no longer a factor, if Pirates win they land the title, any other result and they finish as runners up.
The Bucs have conceded just 12 league goals all season and they kept clean sheets in recent away wins at Stellenbosch (2-0) and Magesi (3-0). Since losing to Sundowns in February it’s now 12 league games without defeat, 8 wins and 4 draws and the only other league defeats came in the first 2 matches of the season. Pirates also won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout this season so the chances of a treble are very much alive.
Recent Head to Head
The first league meeting this season took place back in august and Pirates were 1-0 winners in Orlando
The Betting
At the time of writing Lucky Fish make Orbit College a 14/1 chance with the draw trading at 54/10 and Pirates are red hot favourites at around 0.16/1
A game of 3 goals or more in total is priced at 6/10 and it’s 1.55/1 for both teams to score.
The Verdict:
Orbit have scored the joint lowest total of goals in the top flight whilst conceding more thana any other side in the league but given they are still in relegation trouble this could be another tense afternoon.
I’m looking to the goals markets and especially for Pirates. They were denied by some inspired defending and goalkeeping last week and whilst the nerves will be jangling early one I expect them to eventually get the job dome in some style, scoring 3 or more
Bets: Pirates total goals over 2.5 at 19/20 with Sportingbet
Elsewhere on the final day of the Betway Premiership a draw between Durban City and Amazulu looks on to me given Durban need a point to secure a top half finish.
Bets: Durban City and Amazulu to draw at 2/1 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change