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Orlando Pirates were forced to share the spoils in the Soweto Derby as they stumbled to a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s Betway Premiership clash against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.
It was the first league stalemate between the two Soweto Giants since the 2018/19 campaign, ending the Buccaneers’ five-match winning streak in the fixture. The setback was also a blow to their title challenge, as they dropped two crucial points that would have helped them steer clear at the top of the standings.
Hosting what was a high-pressure league tie, the Buccaneers had to soak up some early pressure from their rivals before they could kick into gear. They emerged unscathed from Chiefs’ confident start, with no real shots at goal witnessed at either end throughout the opening 20 minutes.
The uncharacteristically quiet start to the contest was only interrupted briefly in the 19th minute when Oswin Appollis broke clear of the defence before poking the ball into the net. His celebrations were however cut short as he had been flagged offside.
This was only moments before their first legitimate chance when Relebohile Mofokeng linked with Yanela Mbuthuma, who was denied by Brandon Peterson. Chiefs’ first real attempt at the Pirates goal meanwhile came through a set piece taken from just outside the box, fired towards goal by Glody Lilepo who wasted the opportunity with a shot nowhere near the target.
There was a misplaced attempt from Thalente Mbatha late in the first half, followed by an on-target effort from Kamogelo Sebelebele who drew a save from Peterson from close range. Both were however isolated bright moments in what was a mostly cagey first period.
The start of the second half mostly followed the same pattern, with Sebelebele and Lilepo trading shots at goal with neither finding the target.
The breakthrough arrived just after the hour-mark following a counter from the visitors, who made their way to the opposite end of the field through an excellent run from Wandile Duba before he combined with Pule Mmodi who fired in to make it 1-0.
Pirates’ pursuit for the equaliser featured minimal chances initially, with Mofokeng breaking the standoff with a long-range effort that drew a save from Peterson.
The next attempt at the Chiefs goal was a lot more decisive as the shot-stopper parried a shot from Deon Hotto into the path of Sebelebele, who made no mistake in turning the ball into the net to draw the hosts level in the 75th minute.
They could have taken the lead just moments after the equaliser as Sebelebele looked to turn from scorer to provider in connecting with Appollis, who was denied by Peterson.
There was little in the way of clear-cut chances as the clock wound down, with the contest reverting to a stop-start affair throughout its dying moments.
Seven minutes of additional time could not yield the late winner the Buccaneers so desperately needed, and the final whistle followed to signal a disappointing result with the race at the top of the standings remaining neck and neck.Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Sebelebele, Hotto, Makhaula (Nemtajela 46’), Mbatha, Mofokeng, Appollis (Ndaba 85’), Moremi (Maswanganyi 35’), Mbuthuma
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