Orlando Pirates were forced to share the spoils with Platinum Stars after playing out to a 1-1 draw in the Absa Premiership at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday, writes Dylan Appolis.
Milutin Sredojevic’s side came into this encounter after playing to a 2-2 draw with Polokwane City in their previous Absa Premiership on 30 September.
Meanwhile, Roger De Sa’s men were forced to share the spoils with AmaZulu after playing out to a 1-1 draw in their previous encounter in September.
The Buccaneers got off to a good start and produced the first chance of the clash in the 13th minute when Thamsanqa Gabuza unleashed a powerful strike at goal, but the striker blazed his effort over the bar.
Innocent Maela came close to handing his side the lead in the 30th minute after striking an effort at goal, but his effort sailed over the target.
Dino Visser came to Dikwena’s rescue seven minutes when he drove down low to deny Thabo Matlaba’s strike from 16 yards out.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes as the match went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0.
Pirates eventually broke the deadlock a minute into the second half as Matlaba beat his markers before unleashing a venomous strike to find the back of the net.
However, Dikwena responded swiftly and pulled a goal back two minutes later after Bomginkosi Ntuli slotted the ball into the net from the area to make it 1-1.
Pirates once again came close to taking the lead for the second time in the match when Mpho Makola rattled the woodwork with his free kick from just outside the area.
The Buccaneers continued to dominate in possession, but struggled to carve out any clear-cut opportunities in the final third.
However, neither side could find the winning goal after 90 minutes, as both sides were forced to settle for a point each at the FNB Stadium.
In other Absa Premiership matches:
Baroka 1-1 Golden Arrows
AmaZulu 2-3 Polokwane City
Chippa United 0-0 Maritzburg United
Free State Stars 2-0 Ajax Cape Town
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
