Orlando Pirates’ hopes of CAF Champions League football next season came to an end, after drawing 2-2 with Royal AM at the Chatsworth Stadium on Friday evening.
The result means Cape Town City finished in second place and will play in the CAF Champions League next season, while Royal AM move into third place, above Stellenbosch on goal difference, and are in pole position to play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Pirates will need to beat SuperSport United by a five goal margin in their final game to finish third. But they will face tough opposition in SuperSport, who are desperate for a win to get into the top eight.
Royal AM 2-2 Orlando Pirates
Pirates got off to the ideal start with Deon Hotto finishing off deftly after a good run at the far post to reach a cross from Thembinkosi Lorch, making it 1-0 in just the second minute.
It was 2-0 in the seventh minute, Kwame Peprah heading in, after Hotto went from scoring to assisting, setting up the Ghanaian striker with a headed lob-pass.
Richard Ofori was called into action in the tenth minute but made light work to intercept Shaun Mogaila’s cross. While the home team began to apply pressure, trying to get back into the game they struggled to get shots on goal, and when they did like with Tebogo Potsane’s attempt in the 35th minute, they found the Pirates’ defence in the way.
At half-time Hotto and Peprah’s goals separated the two teams.
Former Pirates striker Ndumiso Mabena was off target with his header in the 50th minute, and finally, in the 59th minute, Royal AM got a shot on target as Mxolisi Macuphu’s instinctive strike forced a top save out of Ofori. Potsane shot over three minutes later.
Pirates could have made it 3-0 in the 77th minute, but substitute Terrence Dzvukamanja couldn’t get his header on target.
Instead, it was 2-1 in the 79th minute, as Thabo Matlaba scored a cracking long-range effort that gave Ofori no chance as it swerved into the top right corner.
Marlon Heugh, who was a spectator for much of the second half, was caught in no man’s land in the 83rd minute, but Pirates weren’t able to take advantage. Mfundo Thikazi had a chance at the other end in the 87th minute, but his shot went wide, while Menzi Masuku shot high and wide two minutes later.
In stoppage time Royal AM continue to push for the equaliser and Macuphu’s looping header went just over the goal, but they weren’t finished and Thikazi grabbed the dramatic equaliser, firing in from a tight angle.
The DStv Premiership will complete its regular season when Pirates take on SuperSport on Monday, however, the promotional playoffs, featuring Swallows and the GladAfrica Championship duo of AmaTuks and Cape Town All Stars, which start on Sunday, will only wrap up on the 15th of June.
