JOHANNEBSURG – Southern based Premier Soccer League club, Orlando Pirates, will meet Platinum Stars in a second successive cup final when they clash in the Telkom Knockout at Mbombela Stadium this Saturday, December 7.
Kick-off at 20:15.
“We respect Stars and they have beaten two of the strongest teams in the league, but we have prepared well,” said Orlando Pirates captain, Lucky Lekgwathi at the Press Conference on Wednesday, 4 December at Rand Stadium. “This is our second cup final and we would like to bring back some silverware.”
Pirates have overcome Mpumalanga Black Aces, Golden Arrows and SuperSport United en route to the final. They needed extra to overcome Matsatsantsa in the last four, with their goals scored by Manyisa and Jali.
The giants from the South have played 23 Telkom Knockout matches since the tournament’s inception in 2006, recording 17 wins, three draws and three losses. They have not won any of the three penalty shootouts they have been involved in.
Bucs’ best showing in the Telkom Knockout era arrived in the 2011/12 season when they won the tournament, defeating Bidvest Wits 3-1 in the final.
In League Cup history, Pirates have won the tournament once (2012) and have been runners-up six times (1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2008 & 2010).
Stars have beaten Maritzburg United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs to reach the final. They defeated the Amakhosi 1-0 in the semifinals thanks to a first professional goal from Semenya.
The Rustenburg team has played 14 Telkom Knockout matches since the tournament’s inception in 2006, recording seven wins, three draws and four defeats. They have won one of the three penalty shootouts they have been involved in.
Dikwena’s best showing in the Telkom Knockout era is winning the tournament in 2006. Reaching the final this season is their best showing since lifting the trophy six years ago.
In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Stars have met in just four previous cup matches.
Bucs have two outright wins, Dikwena one, while one match was drawn and went to penalties – Stars won the shootout 3-1.
That drawn match is also the teams’ most recent meeting, the MTN8 final from earlier this season.
This will be the first meeting of the teams in the Telkom Knockout, and as two former champions of the competition, it is fitting that they will clash in the final.
Bucs hold a superior head-to-head record, with 14 wins compared to just two for Stars.
