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The visitors ran the hosts off their feet for much of the 90 minutes but their lack of accuracy in front of goal is what cost them ultimately.
AmaZulu will gladly accept the point after the working over they received in this contest, but more importantly for the Usuthu they have achieved their first clean sheet of the season.
Pirates coach Rudi Krol retained the same side that trounced SuperSport United 3-0 in a Telkom Cup match on Saturday night and the visitors looked to pick up from where they left off in the Tshwane encounter.
As a result the AmaZulu defence had to be on their toes from the off. In the fifth minute Thulasizwe Mbuyane looked to have picked out Daine Klate in the AmaZulu penalty area with a cross, but defender Sboniso Gumede was able make an interception just before the winger could unleash a volley.
Seconds later, AmaZulu’s central defender Carlington Nyandombo had to come to his teams rescue with a well timed clearance near his goal line with Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya bearing down on him.
Msowoya should have opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he had free header, but he steered his effort from Mbuyane’s cross off target.
The Malawian had a similar opportunity, five minutes later, this time from a Happy Jele assist, yet again the result was the same.
Pirates clearly had the bit between the teeth and relentlessly pursued an opening.
Midway through the half, Clifford Ngobeni aimed a low drive straight at Mbongeni Mzimela in the AmaZulu goals which the keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Pirates’ best attacking foray of the first half came in the 36th minute when Mbuyane flew down the AmaZulu left flank and played a measured pass to Msowoya who held off a defender and hit a low shot.
Mzimela was equal to the task and parried the ball to safety. From the ensuing corner Klate picked out Msowoya, but yet again the striker was wasteful.
Ngobeni showed his ability to hit the ball from distance, just before the interval when he let rip with a sizzling drive from distance that flew inches off target.
Although Pirates failed to maintain their first half tempo, still, they dictated matters after the break, but were not able to find a route to goal. The Buccaneers most threatening attempt came in the 75 minute. On this occasion, Klate shot just over the crossbar from just outside the AmaZulu box.
The home side’s only attempt on goal for the entire match was a long range effort from Dlamini in the 68th minute.
Amazulu: (0) 0
Pirates: (0) 0
AmaZulu: Mzimela, Gumede, Nyandombo, Kasongo, Hadebe, Majoro, Sikhakhane, Zhuwawo (G Dlamini 63’), Khumalo, Ngwenya (Sandile Gumede 68’), Dalamini
Pirates: Moneeb, Lekgwathi, Johannes, Mahamutsa, Jele, Mabalane (Segolela 71’), Jali, Ngobeni, Klate (Mayambela 83’), Mbuyane (Malokase 85’), Msowoya.
