Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin Sredojevic likened the tactical battle on display between Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday as a chess match, saying a draw was a fair result.

The Buccaneers missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings, and only managed to pick up a point in a hard-fought encounter against the reigning champions.

Speaking after the game to SuperSport TV, the Serbian coach admitted that his side went out to win the game, but a draw was probably a fair result.

‘A very tough competitive game. Always when we play against coach Pitso’s [Mosimane] team, it’s a combination of football and chess,’ said Sredojevic.

‘Because it’s a move for a move. There were so many practically number 10s on the field that resulted in one-on-one battles. For the football world that was here today, everything was there.

‘We wanted to win, they wanted to win. We had a reinforced defence, they had a reinforced defence. Both teams gave everything. Unfortunately the missing factor for both supporters, there was tea but the sugar was not there. We didn’t score the goals unfortunately.

‘But I believe it is a fair result looking at everything that happened. I want to give credit to [my] technical team, the players that they have applied themselves to perfection the way we want to play against Mamelodi Sundowns.’

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix