Lady luck is seemingly not favouring Orlando Pirates in the league, after they were held to yet another frustrating stalemate draw in the DStv Premiership.
Pirates and Polokwane City shared spoils after playing to a 1-1 draw during their meeting at the Orlando Stadium on Friday night.
Pirates have not recorded a single win in their last three league matches. The Sea Robbers are now on number 12 with nine points – 15 points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who are sitting comfortably at the top with 24 points.
The Buccaneers were in desperate search of a league win, following the frustrating goalless draw against AmaZulu on Tuesday night.
For City, they were still enjoying their impressive 4-1 win over SuperSport United in the Carling Black Label Knockout, so a draw would have been a positive result for them.
It was probably a bitter-sweet moment for experienced City striker Ndumiso Mabena, who was up against his former side after his second spell at the club was unsuccessful.
As expected, with the congested run of fixtures, Bucs coach Jose Riveiro made a couple of changes from the side that started against Usuthu midweek, with the likes of Miguel Timm, Thabiso Monyane and Karim Kimvuidu given a place in the starting line-up.
From the onset, Pirates stamped their authority in the game and started on the front foot by dominating play and rotating the ball well inside 10 minutes.
However, they almost got caught when Hlayisani Chauke’s one-on-one point-blank shot somehow could not find its way to the back of the net, when goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi made a daring save to keep the score level.
Pirates’ patience and persistence did eventually pay off in the 38th minute, thanks to a Patrick Maswanganyi goal, who fed off a Thembinkosi Lorch cut-back cross after some good build up play and went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Riveiro’s charges came out in the second half all charged up, as they picked up from where they left off and continued their dominance over the visitors.
Their dominance and goal attempts were not enough as they were punished in the 73rd minute, when midfielder Given Mashikinya stunned and silenced the feisty home crowed with his cracking strike from outside the box, leaving a fully stretched Buthelezi with no chance.
Riveiro made an instant reaction and made a last throw of the dice when he introduced Monnapule Saleng, Kermit Erasmus, Bandile Shandu and Zakhele Lepasa with the hope to salvage something in the dying minutes of the game, but it was not enough as they were held to yet another frustrating draw.
