Orlando Pirates stumbled in the Betway Premiership title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Siwelele at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Saturday.
Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss proved why he has been a mainstay in the Bafana Bafana squad recently. The 31-year-old shot-stopper produced a fantastic performance, making 11 saves in Soweto.
The Buccaneers’ stumble takes them to 48 points at the top of the table. However, Mamelodi Sundowns are one point behind and have a game in hand. Despite bringing Siwelele twice already this season, including in the Carling Knockout, the hosts could not make it a triple success.
For the Bloemfontein outfit, the result is a sixth draw in the club’s last eight league games. They sit 11th on the table, five points above the relegation zone.
Pirates showed intensity and intent from the start. In the third minute, Oswin Appollis’ through ball for Tshepang Moremi was hit slightly too hard and picked up by Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss before the winger could get to it.
Kamogelo Sebelebele whipped the ball across the six-yard box for Yanela Mbuthuma in the 20th minute. The striker nearly found the back of the net in style with a backheel flick, but his attempt was denied by Goss.
Appollis set up Sebelebele on the right side of the box in the 25th minute, but his effort was met with an acrobatic punch from Goss.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY WASTED
The Buccaneers should have opened the scoring in the 26th minute, but squandered a golden opportunity. Relebohile Mofokeng’s corner delivery found Seema, whose header was narrowly kept out. The rebound rolled to Sibisi, who poked wide from point-blank range.
Despite Pirates’ efforts, Siwelele opened the scoring against the run of play in the 29th minute. Tebogo Potsane dispossessed Nkosikhona Ndaba in the Pirates' half. He found Vincent Pule at the edge of the area, who hit a sweet shot, beating Sipho Chaine to find the bottom right corner against his former club.
The hosts continued to create chances but went into the break frustrated and unable to find an answer for Siwelele’s opener as Goss kept his side in the game.
The Buccaneers finally hit back in the 51st minute. Mbatha played a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Moremi to run onto, and the winger took full advantage, beating Goss at the near post to level the scoreline.
Moremi had a chance to put the Sea Robbers ahead in the 59th minute, but his attempt at the near post forced Goss into another save.
In the 67th minute, Pirates broke on the counter as Appollis played the ball through to Moremi. With a two-on-one situation and defenders tracking back, he played the ball across to substitute Evidence Makgopa. The striker decided to shoot as he entered the box, sending his attempt over the bar.
The hosts should have taken the lead in the 71st minute as Makgopa charged down Goss’ pass out from the back, sending the ball into the path of Moremi. However, Goss reacted quickly, getting back into position to deny the winger his second of the day.
Substitute Patrick Maswanganyi played a perfectly weighted cross into Mofokeng, who was wide open in the Siwelele box, but the youngster could not get enough power behind his header to bother the opponents’ shot-stopper in the 85th minute.
In the 87th minute, Makgopa tried to meet Moremi’s cross with an acrobatic overhead attempt, but sent his effort wide.
The Buccaneers will be back in action against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium next Sunday, as they hope to make up lost ground in the title race.
On the same day, Siwelele will aim to increase the gap between themselves and second-from-bottom Orbit College as they face one another at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium.
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Moremi 51’)
Siwelele (1) 1 (Pule 29’)
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, N Sibisi, L. Seema, N. Ndaba (D. Hotto 59’), K. Sebelebele, M. Makhaula (S. Mbule 72’), T. Mbatha, R. Mofokeng, O. Appollis (P. Maswanganyi 83’), T. Moremi, Y. Mbuthuma (E. Makgopa 59’)
Siwelele: R. Goss, T. Makhele, N. Rapoo, Y. Mfolozi, N. Mobbie (P. Sanoka 57’), R. Mokhuoane, V. Pule, G. Margeman (T. Letshedi 68’), T. Potsane (B. Ngwato 68’), C. Ohizu (M. Mazibuko 68’), C. Saile (G. Moralo 46’)