Pirates look to end Sundowns’ perfect record
Orlando Pirates will look to end Mamelodi Sundowns’ perfect record in the DStv Premiership this season when the teams meet at the Orlando Stadium on the evening of Wednesday 20 September 2023. Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT.
MATCH BACKGROUND
Pirates come into the match on the back of a 1-0 loss away to Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy in the preliminaries of the CAF Champions League on Sunday. The Buccaneers will look to turn the tie in their favour when they host the return game in late September.
On the league front, Pirates were last in action in late August when they claimed a 2-0 home win over Cape Town City, courtesy of goals from Zakhele Lepasa and Patrick Maswanganyi. Bucs have taken seven points from four Premiership matches thus far, going unbeaten since their opening-round loss at the hands of Stellenbosch FC.
Sundowns were also in Champions League action this past weekend, claiming a comfortable 4-0 away win over Burundi’s Bumamuru FC in Tanzania to all but guarantee a spot in the group stage of the continental competition. Lucas Ribeiro (two), Lesiba Nku and Peter Shalulile shared the goals in their East African trip.
The Brazilians have racked up a perfect domestic league record thus far in the 2023-24 season. Their 2-0 away win over Polokwane City in late August – thanks to a brace from Ribeiro – made it six victories from as many outings at the start of their quest to win a record-extending seventh successive title.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Sundowns have met in 77 league matches dating back as far as 1985. The Brazilians have claimed 36 wins compared to 21 for the Buccaneers, with 20 games drawn.
‘Downs have won the last six successive league meetings of the teams, with the most recent
Read on supersport.com
