Citizens eye cup payback against AmaZulu

ORLANDO Pirates are set for their first cup fixture of the season when they travel to Chatsworth Stadium for their MTN8 quarter-final against Royal AM today.

League football pauses momentarily, with the Buccaneers top of the pile in the DStv Premiership standings. They now face a different proposition in their first taste of knockout football in this campaign.

Having exited early in the previous instalment of the tournament, the 2020 champions will look to reclaim the silverware, which they have hoisted aloft 10 times since the advent of the Top Eight competition in South African football.

Pirates head into the fixture having beaten Marumo Gallants 1-0 at Orlando Stadium in midweek.

Pirates remain unbeaten away from home, having claimed five out of the available nine points, with three out of their tally coming against their next opponents.

In total, they have won three out of their six league fixtures, drawing twice and losing once.

They meet a side that also registered a win in midweek, edging KwaZulu-Natal rivals Maritzburg United 1-0 in Chatsworth on Wednesday.

Royal AM have won an equal number of league games to the Soweto Giants, losing twice, and earning one stalemate. Their win on Wednesday broke a spell of three games without victory.

Changes are expected in the Pirates line-up, following a couple of physical battles over the past week, where the likes of Thabiso Monyane, Thembinkosi Lorch and Kabelo Dlamini emerged as fresh injury concerns.

Meanwhile, midfielder Thabang Monare nears a return to action after a brief spell on the sidelines.

Royal AM, on the other hand, look set to continue without the injured Samir Nurkovic, while Levy Mashiane and Ndumiso Mabena are also among players still to feature for the KZN outfit this season.

Pirates will look to Goodman Mosele for another impressive performance. Equally adept in winning possession in the midfield and linking with the forwards, Mosele is a crucial part of the Bucs’ puzzle and heads into tonight’s game on the back of another solid showing.

The 22-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years since joining the club ahead of last season, with his football brain proving crucial to the Bucs’ cause.

For Royal AM, Ricardo Nascimento will be the one to watch. Along with his defensive prowess, the Brazilian possesses an uncanny ability to get on the scoresheet, from the penalty spot or open play.

It will be the first cup meeting between the two sides, who have met three times in their history, with all their previous encounters occurring in the league.

Pirates go into today’s fixture with fresh memories of a favourable result against Royal AM, having claimed an away win a little over a week ago.