Lioli and LCS meet on catch-up weekend

There are only three Vodacom Premier League games this weekend because this week has been designated as a catch-up weekend by the league. All three matches will be played on Sunday.

Team on form: LCS (left)

Lioli v LCS (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)

Last five matches (most recent first)

Lioli: DDWWD LCS: WWWWW

The pick of the games is a top of the table clash between champions Lioli and LCS at Setsoto Stadium.

Lioli are second in the Vodacom Premier League with 42 points while LCS are third, a further point behind.

Both teams trail Matlama who are top with 43 points, but Tse Nala and Masheshena have both played a game less. With just six matches to go after this weekend’s action, Sunday’s game takes even more importance. Although it won’t decide anything yet, a loss could see the loser lose ground in the title race; momentum is important at this stage of the season.

Momentum is what LCS have right now.

Masheshena are in this position because of a splendid seven-game winning streak that began with a 1-0 win over Bantu in December. In those seven games, Mpitsa Marai’s charges have only conceded two goals and they haven’t conceded in their last four outings.

LCS winning streak

2-0  Mphatlalatsane

2-0 Likila United

1-0  LDF

2-0 Kick4Life

2-1 LMPS

2-1 Linare

1-0  Bantu

Lioli, on the other hand, go into Sunday’s encounter under pressure after goalless draws with Likila United and Bantu last week saw them relinquish top spot. The champions held a five-point lead at the top at the start of last month but have endured a disappointing period which has also seen them knocked out of the CAF Champions League at the first hurdle.

Linare v Sandawana (15:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)

Team off form: Linare

Form: Last five matches

Linare: LDDDL Sandawana: WLLWL

In Maputsoe, Linare face a critical game when they host Sandawana at the Maputsoe DiFA Stadium. The Leribe club is only above the relegation places on goal difference.

They meet a Sandawana that is also struggling.

Sandawana were tied with Lioli at the top of the league in early December but have only won two of their following six games. However, thanks to the poor form of the sides behind them, Sandawana are still clinging on to fourth place which still represents a major achievement for the Butha-Buthe side.

Linare’s form is worse; they haven’t won a league game since beating Likila 1-0 on December 6.

Linare flirted with relegation last season and finished just four points clear of the drop in the end. Tse Tala, two-time league champions, are in a relegation battle again and they desperately need all three points on Sunday.

Likila United v Likhopo (15:00, Butha-Buthe)

Man of form? Likhopo's Lehlomela Ramabele (right)

Form: Last five matches

Likila: LDLWD Likhopo: LLDDW

There is another meeting between a team running away from demotion and one going for the top four on Sunday when Likila United host Likhopo. Both teams go into the games on winless runs.

Likhopo haven’t won in their last four games but still have hopes of a top four place as they are only two points behind Sandawana. The Red Army’s hopes of claiming a top four likely rest on the form of striker Lehlomela Ramabele. Ramabele is the league’s second top scorer with 10 goals but he hasn’t found the net in Likhopo’s three outings.

Likila, who finished sixth last season in their first-ever top-flight campaign, are the league’s joint lowest scorers with just13 goals from 19 games. They have only won one league game since beating Rovers 1-0 on October 18.

However, Likila showed grit in a goalless draw with Lioli last Friday. Likila will need more such performances if they are to climb away from relegation.

Vodacom Premier League Fixtures

Sunday 20th March

Likila United v Likhopo (15:00, Butha-Buthe)

Lioli v LCS (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)

Linare v Sandawana (15:00, Maputsoe)

Vodacom Premier League Table

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Matlama	20	13	4	3	34	19	15	43
2	Lioli	19	12	6	1	30	8	22	42
3	LCS	19	12	5	2	22	7	15	41
4	Sandawana	19	9	3	7	18	18	+0	30
5	Bantu	20	8	5	7	18	11	7	29
6	Likhopo	19	7	7	5	22	14	8	28
7	Kick4Life	20	6	9	5	16	17	-1	27
8	LDF	20	6	8	6	20	18	2	26
9	Liphakoe	20	4	9	7	14	19	-5	21
10	LMPS	20	3	9	8	17	25	-8	18
11	Linare	19	4	5	10	18	24	-6	17
12	Rovers	20	4	5	11	13	25	-12	17
13	Likila United	19	4	5	10	13	26	-13	17
14	Mphatlalatsane	20	2	6	12	16	40	-24	12