Orlando Pirates missed the chance to go up to third in the DStv Premiership table after they rescued a 1-1 draw against Moroka Swallows in the Original Soweto Derby on Wednesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Moroka Swallows 1-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 03 April 2024
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Pirates made three changes following their defeat against Sekhukhune United, as Patrick Maswanganyi, Tapelo Xoki and Nkosinathi Sibisi were recalled.
Swallows had a quick start as within the first minute Roland Sanou almost opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the box that came off the crossbar.
The Buccaneers eventually got into the rhythm of the game after that and their first real chance came on 21 minutes after Tshegofatso Mabasa had a glancing header in the box that missed the far post narrowly wide.
The Birds were playing on counter-attacks and Lindokuhle Mtshali finally broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark with a curling shot in the box after Pirates could not clear their lines.
Jose Riveiro's charges were fired up and Mabasa had a chance to equalise just before the interval with a free header at the near post that hit the side-netting, as the home side went to the break with a narrow lead.
The Sea Robbers had an ideal start in the second stanza as eight minutes later Maswanganyi levelled matters with finish from a late run in the box after a cut-back by Thabiso Lebitso.
The Buccaneers increased their intensity and on the hour-mark, Xoki was unfortunate not to give them the lead with a bullet header in the box that missed slightly wide, as shot-stopper Daniel Akpeyi remained flat-footed.
With the pace of the game slowing down, Pirates required fresh legs in midfield in the last 23 minutes, as Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo came on for Miguel Timm.
The Buccaneers continued to pin Swallows back in their own half and Mabasa almost got the winner seven minutes before time with a free header in the box that missed narrowly wide.
The Birds defended in numbers in the dying minutes and frustrated Pirates, who finished with ten men after Sibisi was shown a straight red card in added time for a seemingly foul language towards the match official.
Here's how they lined up:
Moroka Swallows: 16. Akpeyi, 36. Mphahlele, 50. Nyauza, 45. Mngonyama, 77. Ngqnga, 28. Sanou, 8. Phalane, 80. Mahlonoko, 37. Everson, 10. Mtshali, 29. Koapeng
Subs: 31. T.Mbanjwa, 25. Maponya, 19. Tshanini, 33. Khupe, 2. S.Sibiya, 21. Khumalo, 6. Mthethwa, 24. V. Sibiya, 30. L. Mbanjwa.
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 27. Xoki, 5. Sibisi, 7. Hotto, 37. Lebitso, 4. Timm, 41. Mbatha, 28. Maswanganyi, 18. Dlamini, 38. Mofokeng, 19. Mabasa
Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 23. Maela, 36. Sesane, 2. Monyane, 16. Makhaula, 25. Kimvuidi, 15. Ndlondlo, 21. Kapinga, 9. Lepasa
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