Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City shared the spoils after playing out to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon, reports DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Buccaneers came into this clash hoping to return to winning ways after falling to a 4-3 defeat by Bidvest Wits in their previous league encounter.

Meanwhile, City were on a five-match winless run in the league following their 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows at Cape Town Stadium in their last league encounter.

The Citizens got off to the perfect start when Thabo Nodada gave his side the lead after seven minutes with a superb effort from distance.

City then doubled their lead two minutes later when Kermit Erasmus put the ball past Pirates keeper Joris Delle.

The Soweto giants managed to pull a goal back in the 23rd minute as Happy Jele’s strike deflected off Taariq Fielies and wrong-footed City shotstopper Peter Leeuwenburgh.

Pirates equalised just before the break after Tshegofatso Mabasa fired his effort past Leewenburgh to make it 2-2.

The game went into the interval with the scoreline locked at 2-2.

Benni McCarthy was forced into making two changes early in the second half when Shaquille Abrahams and Shane Roberts came on to replace Fagrie Lakay and Erasmus, who were forced off through injury.

Rhulani Mokwena made a change of his own in the 55th minute when Siphesihle Ndlovu came on for Xolani Mlambo.

Pirates took the lead for the first time in the game a minute later after Alfred Ndengane rose well to nod the ball home at the far post.

Delle came to his side’s rescue in the 64th minute when he made a save at the near post to keep out a Craig Martins strike at goal.

The Pirates keeper produced a good save in the 75th minute to keep out Abrahams’ effort from the edge of the area.

The visitors managed to level matters nine minutes later when Roberts blasted his effort home from close range.

Neither side was able to find the winning goal in the closing stages of the game as it ended 3-3 at the Orlando Stadium.