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Cape Town - A thrilling night of PSL football at the Cape Town Stadium produced a 2-2 draw between title chasing Orlando Pirates and relegation-threatened Ajax Cape Town.
Ajax were left to rue missed chances, forcing them to settle for one point instead of three, although it could also be argued that on the balance of the play over 90 minutes, the Buccaneers did enough to have won the game.
The first half was an action-packed and exciting affair, the tone set by Abia Nale's seventh minute goal.
VIDEO: Ajax v Pirates, highlights
Pirates had an early chance through Ndumiso Mabena but he dragged his shot wide.
It was from a Pirates mistake that the Urban Warriors took the lead, Andile Jali losing the ball in a dangerous area of the pitch.
Ajax's response was swift as Khama Billiat fed Nale with a great through ball, the latter doing well to ensure his first touch took him in on goal where he avoided a challenge by Siyabonga Sangweni before beating Senzo Meyiwa at the near post.
Following the opener, it was the visitors who did most of the attacking, although Ajax always looked enterprising and posed danger when going forward.
The Sea Robbers were however off with their finishing as Thabo Matlaba volleyed over the bar and then Sangweni headed wide from a corner before the first stanza reached its midway point.
Meyiwa was called into action five minutes before the break to save another Nale shot, while Lebogang Manyama was ruled off-sides when running in on goal in what appeared to be the incorrect decision.
Pirates also did not have luck on their side when striker Takesure Chinyama rattled the crossbar with a superb effort from long range just before the break.
The second half was even better than the first, with Pirates equalizing four minutes after the restart, Chinyama burying a header into the bottom corner.
Bucs were to go in front just five minutes later, Mpho Makola making it 2-1 in the 59th minute, getting on the end of
Chinyama's shot which had rebounded off the bar, evading a defender and finishing at the near post.
The next opportunity fell to Billiat, who combined with Manyama, but having been set up on goal, failed to force Meyiwa into a save with a weak effort.
Ten minutes later, Lucky Lekgwathi was fortunate not to get sent off after using his arms to bring a goal-bund Billiat to the ground.
Ajax were to have two excellent chances to grab an injury-time winner, but on both occasions Billiat showed a lack of composure as he attempted a long-range chip when he could perhaps have taken the ball closer to goal, before slashing another chance wide with the goal at his mercy.
Ajax were left to rue missed chances, forcing them to settle for one point instead of three, although it could also be argued that on the balance of the play over 90 minutes, the Buccaneers did enough to have won the game.
The first half was an action-packed and exciting affair, the tone set by Abia Nale's seventh minute goal.
VIDEO: Ajax v Pirates, highlights
Pirates had an early chance through Ndumiso Mabena but he dragged his shot wide.
It was from a Pirates mistake that the Urban Warriors took the lead, Andile Jali losing the ball in a dangerous area of the pitch.
Ajax's response was swift as Khama Billiat fed Nale with a great through ball, the latter doing well to ensure his first touch took him in on goal where he avoided a challenge by Siyabonga Sangweni before beating Senzo Meyiwa at the near post.
Following the opener, it was the visitors who did most of the attacking, although Ajax always looked enterprising and posed danger when going forward.
The Sea Robbers were however off with their finishing as Thabo Matlaba volleyed over the bar and then Sangweni headed wide from a corner before the first stanza reached its midway point.
Meyiwa was called into action five minutes before the break to save another Nale shot, while Lebogang Manyama was ruled off-sides when running in on goal in what appeared to be the incorrect decision.
Pirates also did not have luck on their side when striker Takesure Chinyama rattled the crossbar with a superb effort from long range just before the break.
The second half was even better than the first, with Pirates equalizing four minutes after the restart, Chinyama burying a header into the bottom corner.
Bucs were to go in front just five minutes later, Mpho Makola making it 2-1 in the 59th minute, getting on the end of
Chinyama's shot which had rebounded off the bar, evading a defender and finishing at the near post.
The next opportunity fell to Billiat, who combined with Manyama, but having been set up on goal, failed to force Meyiwa into a save with a weak effort.
Ten minutes later, Lucky Lekgwathi was fortunate not to get sent off after using his arms to bring a goal-bund Billiat to the ground.
Ajax were to have two excellent chances to grab an injury-time winner, but on both occasions Billiat showed a lack of composure as he attempted a long-range chip when he could perhaps have taken the ball closer to goal, before slashing another chance wide with the goal at his mercy.
