Orlando Pirates conceded a late second half goal as they drew 1-1 with Cape Town Spurs in their DStv Premiership clash at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Jose Riveiro’s side knew a victory against the bottom-of-the-table team would move them into second spot on the table. At the same it was an opportunity to bring parity to their head-to-head record, as they had surprisingly lost to Spurs in Cape Town last year, just before they appointed Ernst Middendorp.
The draw means Spurs take four points off Pirates this campaign, with the Bucs remaining in fifth spot, while Spurs move within two points of 15th-placed Richards Bay.
It was Pirates who applied the early pressure. In the fifth minute Thabiso Monyane tried two long-range efforts in 30 seconds, as he first he forced Neil Boshoff into a save that then hit the left upright, before another shot flew just wide of the right post. Three minutes later, Tshegofatso Mabasa, starting his first game for Pirates this season, fired wide and high.
At the other end, Luvuyo Phewa’s free kick attempt in the 10th minute went just over Sipho Chaine’s goal.
However it was Pirates who would grab the lead in the 12th minute as Thalente Mbatha released a good pass that released Relebohile Mofokeng, who had just tested Boshoff a minute or two earlier, and he scored his first league goal of the season as he cut inside from the left and curled his shot past the diving goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
Spurs captain Chumani Butsaka almost levelled matters in the 15th minute, but his powerful shot struck the upright. Makhehleni Makhaula’s 24th-minute attempt was straight at Boshoff.
There was a great chance for Spurs to get an equaliser in the 36th minute, after an excellent run by Asanele Velebayi, who cut the ball back into the box, but Ashley Cupido lost his footing as he tried to shoot, and Pirates were able to clear.
At the break it remained 1-0 to the home team.
After half-time Boitumelo Radiopane, who has been on loan at Spurs from Pirates for two consecutive seasons, came on against his mother club, along with Surprise Ralani, while Lesedi Kapinga came on for the Bucs.
Mabasa’s header from a corner in the 50th minute was punched away by Boshoff, who then had to parry a ball over his goal after Tapelo Xoki sent a long ball goal-ward.
Just after the hour mark, a swift Spurs attack set up Butsaka on the edge of the area, but he was unable to steer his effort on target. It was a good period for Spurs, and Velebayi had a chance in the 65th minute, but his final effort was poorly struck and rolled across the face of Chaine’s goal.
Ernst Middendorp also gave debuts to Denwin Farmer and Sphelele Maduna, both coming off the bench in the second half, while Pirates brought on Deon Hotto and Zakhele Lepasa, the latter firing wide in the 74th minute.
But it was Spurs who would find the equaliser in the 76th minute, as Gadiel Kamagi ran onto an excellent pass from Ralani and the Tanzanian fired in a great shot from the left leaving Chaine with no chance.
Pirates were lucky when in the 80th minute Chaine made a last ditch tackle to deny Radiopane who was racing clear, though replays suggest the goalkeeper made the tackle with his studs up and could count himself fortunate to not be reprimanded.
The last fifteen minutes (including seven minutes of added time) saw end-to-end action as both teams sought a winner, Boshoff making two big back-to-back saves from Innocent Maela and Kapinga in the 94th minute to keep matters level.
Pirates should’ve had what looked a penalty a minute later for a foul by Farmer on Lepasa, but the officials didn’t give it, and when the final whistle blew it two minutes later it remained 1-1.
