Kaizer Chiefs have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their MTN 8 semifinal against Orlando Pirates, where they need to overturn a three-goal deficit to move to the final. The winner of the tie will face Bloemfontein Celtic in the final.
The Buccaneers were clinical at Orlando Stadium last time out, scoring three unanswered goals and, more importantly, denying their rivals of a crucial away goal.
Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates: MTN 8 preview
They come into Sunday’s clash buoyed not only by their performance in their home patch but also victory in their midweek league clash away to Bloemfontein Celtic.
Their opponents, on the other hand, have not quite fired. Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by TS Galaxy in their fixture on Wednesday, and have only managed three goals all season, with two coming from the MTN 8 quarterfinal clash against Maritzburg United.
Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt says they must win the match on Sunday.
“There is no question, we are starting the match trailing 0-3 against a side that is capable of beating any team in the league,” he told the official Kaizer Chiefs website. “The first aim going into the match is to win the contest.”
Gavin Hunt, Kaizer Chiefs head coach
Amakhosi will be welcoming back Bafana defender Reeve Frosler, who returned to training earlier in the week.
Pirates, on the other hand, have a few injury worries, following a physical encounter against Celtic, where Thembinkosi Lorch and Terrence Dzvukamanja both stretchered off the pitch.
Other players currently under an injury cloud are last season’s golden boot winner Gabadinho Mhango and new signing Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Both players did not feature in the match against Celtic, while Mhango also missed the first leg of the MTN 8 semifinal.
Kick-off and TV channel
The match kicks off at 15:30 and will be broadcast on the Supersport Premier Soccer League channel (202).
