03 December 2019, by: Leonard Solms

PSL Predictions – Matchday 14

Mamelodi Sundowns are out of PSL action this coming weekend due to their CAF Champions League clash with Wydad Casablanca. Bidvest Wits, meanwhile, are scheduled to take on Djoliba in the Confederation Cup.

Nevertheless, an exciting matchweek awaits, as Kaizer Chiefs look to pull further clear at the top and the rest of the chasing pack looks to ensure that the pressure stays on Amakhosi.

Here is you preview and predictions for Matchday 14.

SuperSport United and Highlands Park face off at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday night. Matsatsantsa missed a great chance to put pressure on Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits when they drew 1-1 with Stellenbosch, but this game gives them another opportunity.

Kaitano Tembo’s men sit second on the Premiership table, but they have played one more game than league leaders Kaizer Chiefs, two more than third-placed Sundowns, and five more than seventh-placed Bidvest Wits.

Highlands Park sits sixth, just four points behind Matsatsantsa, and will be looking to stay in touch with the leading pack.

The Lions of the North have not won in six matches in all competitions, so halting that run away to the team which beat them in the MTN8 final will be a difficult task.

Orlando Pirates picked up a vital 3-2 win over Polokwane City in their last game. Now, they face Rise and Shine’s local rivals, Baroka.

Bakgaga have scored just once in their last seven league matches, but Orlando Pirates have an exceptionally leaky defence with 18 goals shipped in 12 Premiership fixtures this season.

To their credit, Wedson Nyirenda’s men have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches. The fact that Pirates and Baroka have been polar opposites this season makes this game an intriguing and unpredictable encounter.

Black Leopards claimed a crucial win over Golden Arrows at Thohoyandou Stadium in their last game. Now, they are set to host Abafana Bes’thende’s Durban rivals, AmaZulu.

Usuthu drew 0-0 to Maritzburg United in their most recent fixture, meaning they sit 15th in the Premiership. Black Leopards have climbed up to ninth with a game in hand.

The home fans in Thohoyandou will likely give Luc Eymael’s men an added advantage and they are tipped to come away with another win.

Cape Town City have spent most of this season banging in the goals from all angles but struggling to shut teams out. Strangely enough, they head into Saturday’s match at Athlone Stadium off the back of consecutive 0-0 draws under Jan Olde Riekerink.

The Dutchman has another chance to find his groove against the bottom team in the league.

Chippa have picked up seven points from their last three fixtures, but the jury is still out on whether or not Norman Mapeza has truly steered them out of the woods.

Kermit Erasmus aggravated his hamstring against Highlands Park in City’s last game, but his team-mates need to learn to put away their chances in crucial moments. Against the Chilli Boys, they should have enough quality to seal the win if they do.

League leaders Kaizer Chiefs return to action on Saturday night against Bloemfontein Celtic at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Amakhosi have a 10-point lead at the top of the table, and with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns out of league action, this is a chance for Ernst Middendorp’s men to pull further clear of Masandawana.

Chiefs thumped Stellenbosch 4-0 in their last game, while Bloemfontein Celtic managed to beat Polokwane City 1-0. Both teams picked up the three points away from home.

In this instance, the partisan crowd in Durban should see Amakhosi over the line, but they cannot expect an easy ride against the fifth-placed team in the league.

Polokwane’s Old Peter Mokaba Stadium hosts Sunday’s only fixture of the round as Polokwane City host Maritzburg United.

Rise and Shine will be boosted by home advantage, but have lost their last eight games in all competitions. Their search for a head coach to replace Zlatko Krmpotić continues with Bernard Molekwa standing in for the time being.

Maritzburg United, meanwhile, have only lost one of their last 10 matches in all competitions. They stand a good chance of claiming an away win in this one given their consistency of late and the chaos their hosts are enduring.

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