Orlando Pirates continue to play catch-up to DStv Premiership runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns as they were held to a goalless draw by Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday afternoon.
The result means that the Buccaneers are now eight points behind Masandawana after 11 games. The Pretorians are sitting comfortably on top of the league standings with 24 points after just eight matches.
Based on how they concluded the previous season, Pirates were tipped to be the team to give Sundowns a run for their money and challenge them for the league title.
However, the Sea Robbers have been blowing hot and cold as they have dropped crucial points left right and centre.
Going into the game against the Natal Rich Boys, Bucs coach Jose Riveiro and his troops were not only eying for three points but were covertly out for revenge after the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit knocked them out of the Carling Black Label Knockout cup competition recently.
Riveiro made four changes to his starting line-up that claimed bragging in the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs, with under-fire Thembinkosi Lorch being the notable absentee after being suspended by the club following his suspended jail sentence and R100 000 fine for assaulting his ex-girlfriend on Tuesday.
Not too many clear-cut chances
The home side had some extra tactical prowess from newly appointed assistant coach to Kaitano Tembo, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, as they went for a 4-1-4-1 defensive approach to contain the dangerous counter-attacks from the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Vincent Pule.
The game did not produce many clear-cut goal scoring opportunities until the dying minutes of the second half, which saw Pirates come close to snatching a last-minute win through a Kabelo Dlamini free kick.
Goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane stepped up and produced a super reflex save, as he parried the deflected shot that was on its way to goal finding the back of the net.
Another opportunity came when captain Tapelo Xoki fired a well-worked free kick from range but Mabokgwane was equal to the task once again to help his side get an important point against Pirates.
