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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates and University of Pretoria will meet for their first cup match in the Telkom Knockout last 16.
Pirates and Tuks have only previously clashed in Absa Premiership matches – six in all since the 2012/13 season when the Pretoria side first played in the top flight. Bucs have two wins compared to one for Tuks, while three matches have been drawn.
The teams have yet to meet this season, but last term both matches between the clubs ended in goalless stalemates. In fact the six matches have produced just six goals, suggesting that this Telkom Knockout clash is unlikely to be a free-scoring one.
Pirates, who have won the Telkom Knockout just once (2011), reached the semifinals of the 2014 edition before falling 2-0 to eventual champions SuperSport United. They eliminated Polokwane City and Ajax Cape Town in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
As for University of Pretoria, they went down 2-1 at the hands of local rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the last 16 of the Telkom Knockout last season. They have yet to win a match in the TKO – this will be their fourth appearance in the competition.
In terms of current form, Pirates come into the match off the back of their fantastic achievement of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final. Bucs won 4-3 away to Al Ahly to complete a 5-3 aggregate victory in the semifinals of Africa’s second-tier continental competition. However, Pirates’ league form has been far less impressive, with just one win from five matches this season.
Tuks have alsohad a tough time of things in the league so far this season, picking up just one win from their opening six matches. The University-based side suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Bloemfontein Celtic on September 27 in their last competitive outing.
The fixture is set for Friday, October 16 at the Orlando Stadium.
Kick-off at 20:00.
