DURBAN – Local football supporters are in the enviable position of having two table-topping Absa Premiership matches to attend today.
Those with the luxury of private transport can first witness log leaders Golden
Arrows attempt to stretch their unbeaten start of eight league games when Chippa United come to KwaMashu in the afternoon, and then dash to Moses Mabhida Stadium where second-placed Baroka FC face Kaizer Chiefs in a 6pm kickoff.
If the top two slip up then it will be a three-way tussle for the lead via goal difference involving Chiefs.
Cape Town City can also get into the mix if they edge the Mother City derby against Ajax Cape Town in an afternoon fixture.
However, all these sides could be leapfrogged by Orlando Pirates if the Buccaneers account for Polokwane City in the late match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, and other results go their way.
Tonight we face @KaizerChiefs #MatchDay #ABSAPrem pic.twitter.com/CmfnKeoBpe
— Baroka Football Club (@Baroka_FC) September 30, 2017
Chiefs come to Durban, one of their alternative “home”venues, looking for a first home victory.
So far at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg they have lost once and drawn twice. Their only victories have been on the road, both 2-0 scores away to Maritzburg United and Cape Town.
Being a home-away-from-home venue, Chiefs will look to break their home duck at MMS tonight, against a Baroka outfit that doesn’t sit back, so this tie promises goals.
Even the visiting goalkeeper gets onto the scoresheet!
MATCHDAY!
A chance for City to make it 3 in a row and go top of the log!
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) September 30, 2017
Baroka goalie Oscarine Masuluke comes to the coast buoyed by his goal last season being nominated by a Fifa panel for the Puskas award.
His overhead goal against Pirates last term was a
contender for PSL Goal of the Year, but the accolade went
to Siphiwe Tshabalala of Chiefs.
Tonight if he can get the better of Tshabalala as a goalkeeper then Baroka could well enjoy top spot.
Chiefs are not a one-man show, though
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:
EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">– Venezuelan Gustavo Paez is emerging as a key performer with three goals in six outings, and he’s determined to fire in more.
📣| MATCHDAY 🔴🔴🔴
Time for the only club in Cape Town to send Aces back to Mpumalanga. #WeAreAjaxCT🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/XyHKFbTn1k
— Ajax Cape Town (@ajaxcapetown) September 30, 2017
“They are a fast running side,” Páez says about Baroka, “scoring a lot of goals. It means that we have to be focused and be careful defensively.
“On the other hand, we must create chances and finish them.”
He bagged the double that downed Maritzburg, and is eager to get into double figures this season, his first full
campaign in the PSL after he joined the Soweto giants in January.
“I want to get another five before Christmas and I am now looking at scoring 15 for the season,” he told the club website.
Arrows will fancy their chances of extending their run, having got the better of Chippa last season with a draw away and a win in Durban.
Coach Clinton Larsen expects to have attacking midfielder Jabulani Shongwe, and defenders Matome Mathiane and Lehlohonolo Nonyane back from injury.