Orlando Pirates slumped to a disappointing goalless draw in Tuesday’s Betway Premiership encounter against Stellenbosch at Athlone Stadium. This was despite navigating the majority of the contest with a one-man advantage.
The result meant that the Buccaneers shared points for the first time in the league at the 18th time of asking this season. It also denied them a chance to inch closer to the top of the standings in their bid to narrow the gap between themselves and the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.
In their fourth straight away fixture, Jose Riveiro’s charges were looking to add a third consecutive win as they returned to league football after a successful cup outing over the weekend. They were not immediately able to find cohesion at Athlone with the home side looking the more threatening of the two throughout the first 10 minutes.
Pirates gradually found some rhythm as they grew into the game, but could only muster an ambitious shot from the boot of Relebohile Mofokeng. The 20-year-old worked himself into space from a long way out and his effort at goal lacked the necessary to trouble goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
The Stellies shot-stopper was again untroubled as he comfortably kept out a left-footed effort from Tshegofatso Mabasa in the 28th minute. His opposite number Sipho Chaine also did not break much of a sweat as Genino Palace fired straight at him a few moments later.
The game was flipped on its head just after the hour mark when Brian Onyango’s desperate attempt to stop Mabasa landed him in hot water. The defender’s over-enthusiastic challenge earned him a straight red, tilting the advantage to the visitors.
Bucs midfielder Kabelo Dlamini was tasked with set piece duties and went just inches close to producing the opener as his firmly-taken shot beat Masuluke before rattling onto the crossbar. That turned out to be the chance of the first half with the Buccaneers’ failing to make the most of their numerical advantage ahead of the break.
Their long, fruitless toil continued well into the second half with the home side closing up shop. The men from the Winelands did manage a few forays into Bucs territory, but were unable to land a blow as the defensive pair of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Mbekezile Mbokazi held their shape. It was at the other end where they committed most men, forming an effective shield against the visitors’ relentless attacks.
Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng could not breach the sea of maroon with their shots at goal before the latter finally managed to draw Masuluke into a save in the 76th minute. The net was sent bulging three minutes later as Mabasa headed in from close range. The Bucs striker was however adjudged offside, adding to the evening’s frustration.
Stellenbosch nearly manufactured a late winner out of nothing when a deflected shot from Enyinnaya Godswill created an awkward bounce for Chaine. The goalkeeper however recovered to make a crucial save.
The visitors continued to probe in the dying moments, dominating possession without much joy inside the attacking third. It was not to be their night in the end as they could only pick up a solitary point that took this season’s tally to 40.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Mbokazi, Sibisi, Van Rooyen (Shandu 87’), Hotto, Makhaula, Mosele (Ndlondlo 78’), Dlamini (Maswanganyi 62’), Nkota, Mofokeng, Mabasa.
