Pirates look to end on a high

Orlando Pirates will look to end their Absa Premiership season on a high when they host Free State Stars at Orlando Stadium on 12 May 2018, kick-off at 15h00 CAT.

Pirates’ hopes of winning the league title were dashed in the previous round of matches, both by Mamelodi Sundowns’ victory over Ajax Cape Town and their own 1-0 loss to Cape Town City on April 28 – the defeat was their first in the league since late January.

Related: Mamelodi Sundowns win PSL

The Buccaneers have claimed 29 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 4-0 win over Bidvest Wits. The Soweto giants will finish in second place regardless of the result in this match.

Stars guaranteed a top-seven finish with a goalless draw at home to Polokwane City on April 28. The result extended their winless run in the league to six matches, with their last victory coming away to Platinum Stars in early March.

Ea Lla Koto has claimed just 16 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 3-2 loss at SuperSport United last month.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and Pirates have met in 56 league matches since 1986. The Buccaneers have claimed 25 wins compared to nine for Ea Lla Koto, while 22 matches have been drawn. The Soweto club has won 16 of their 28 home league matches against the Free State side, suffering two defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, in Bethlehem in December 2017, Stars claimed a 2-1 home win thanks to an own goal from Abbubaker Mobara and a strike from Sinethemba Jantjie. The Buccaneers have won their last six consecutive home league matches against Ea Lla Koto.

Form and Fixtures

ORLANDO PIRATES

Season league results (most recent first): LWWDWWWWWLWDWWLDDWDLDDDLWDWDW

Remaining league fixtures: N/A

FREE STATE STARS

Season league results (most recent first): DLDDLLWDDWDLWWWWLWDDLDWWWLLDL

Remaining league fixtures: N/A

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2012/13 Stars 1-1 Pirates Masehe; Mbesuma (pen)

2013/14 Pirates 2-0 Stars Matlaba, Makola

2013/14 Stars 1-1 Pirates Henyekane; Gcaba

2014/15 Pirates 1-0 Stars Klate

2014/15 Stars 1-1 Pirates Sekola; Erasmus

2015/16 Stars 1-0 Pirates Nkosi

2015/16 Pirates 1-0 Stars Ndoro

2016/17 Pirates 1-0 Stars Ndoro

2016/17 Stars 3-2 Pirates Sekola, Masehe, Anas; Ngobeni (og), Ndoro

2017/18 Stars 2-1 Pirates Mobara (og), Jantjie; Kutumela

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1986)

Home

| P | W | D | L | GF | GA
Pirates | 28 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 45 | 15
Stars | 28 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 24 | 30

Away

| P | W | D | L | GF | GA
Pirates | 28 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 30 | 24
Stars | 28 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 45

Total

| P | W | D | L | GF | GA
Pirates | 56 | 25 | 22 | 9 | 75 | 39
Stars | 56 | 9 | 22 | 25 | 39 | 75