Pirates, Sundowns share spoils

Soweto - Orlando Pirates brought their two-game losing streak in the Absa Premiership to a halt with a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in a league match at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.

As it happened: Pirates v Sundowns

The Buccaneers came into the game off the back of losses to Maritzburg United and Kaizer Chiefs, but earned a point after coming from behind against the Brazilians, and could probably consider themselves unlucky not to have won.

The first half started with a bang following Sundowns’ opening goal in the fifth minute.

Some great work down the right flank by Themba Zwane saw him beating two defenders before squaring for Khama Billiat to tap home from only a couple of yards out, 1-0.

Pirates night appeared to get worse in the 22nd minute when Daine Klate had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Thabo Rakhale.

The Buccaneers, though, did not let that upset their fight-back and they should have restored parity in the 26th minute when Sifiso Myeni played Kermit Erasmus into space, but he failed to beat the keeper from close range.

Six minutes later and Pirates did find the equalising goal when Lennox Bacela turned home a goalmouth scramble following a corner-kick, 1-1.

Sundowns, though, had the last say of the half when Teko Modise played Billiat through on goal, but he fired wide with just the keeper to beat in the 45th minute.

The second half saw the Buccaneers take firm control of the game as Sundowns offered very little in attack.

In the 58th minute Bacela came bitterly close to finding his second goal on the night when his header from an Oupa Manyisa cross struck the woodwork from eight-yards out.

In the 73rd minute Erasmus wasted another glorious chance when he was slipped through on goal, but again Kennedy Mweene denied him in a one-on-one situation.

Mweene, though, was at fault for Pirates’ next chance on goal in the 79th minute when his poor clearance was picked up by Lehlohonolo Majoro, but he also failed to beat the Sundowns ‘keeper in a one-on-one.

In the end the spoils were shared the draw sees Sundowns drop to third place on the log following Bidvest Wits win over Ajax Cape Town also on Wednesday night, while the Buccaneers remain in ninth place.

Scorers:

Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Bacela 32’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Billiat 5’)

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo, Jele, Phungwayo, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Sarr, Myeni, Manyisa, Bacela (Ntshumayelo 84’), Klate (Rakhale 22’), Erasmus (Majoro 78’).

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Mphahlele, Mashaba, Nthethe (Evans 47’), Schut, Kekana, T. Zwane (Laffor 84’), Zungu, Malajila, Modise, Billiat (Ramagalela 80’).