Orlando Pirates were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by English Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle in their pre-season friendly opener out in Marbella, Spain, on Friday evening.
Monnapule Saleng should have given Pirates an eighth-minute lead but slipped just before taking his shot, as the Englishmen cleared from danger.
Bucs missed another chance in the 12th minute as Makhehleni Makhaula skied his shot with just the goalkeeper to beat.
In the 18th minute, Saleng was again guilty of missing an opportunity, failing to hit the target despite turning the defender inside out.
The first real opportunity for The Pilgrims came in the 28th minute but Ben Waine miscued his shot as Sipho Chaine made an easy save.
Chaine was again called into action in the 37th minute, making an audacious one-on-one stop from Muhamed Tijani.
Jose Riveiro’s charges broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Evidence Makgopa pouncing on Argyle’s failure to clear the ball, making it 1-0.
Bucs’ celebration was however short-lived as Plymouth hit back a minute later to draw matters level via Bali Mumba from close range.
Bradley Cooper dived low to deny Saleng in the 42nd minute and keep the scores unchanged at 1-1.
Pirates went back in front, making it 2-1 in the 43rd minute through centre-back Olisa Ndah, as the Buccaneers took the one-goal advantage into the break.
Morgan Whittaker tried his luck from range in the 47th minute but it was tamed to trouble substitute goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi.
Argyle were awarded a 48th-minute penalty but Buthelezi denied Ryan Hardie from the spot to keep Pirates in the lead.
Wayne Rooney’s troops made it 2-2 in the 62nd minute through Callum Wright’s powerful header from Ibrahim Cissoko’s cross.
Pirates had Deon Hotto to thank in the 77th minute with a goal-line clearance after Buthelezi was found in no man’s land.
Tshegofatso Mabasa was denied the winner in the 86th minute, with his shot coming off the post with Cooper well beaten.
A share of the spoils is how the match ended, as Pirates’ next match will see them take on Spanish LALIGA side Sevilla on Monday, July 15.
