Orlando Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by Stellenbosch FC in a 2020-21 DStv Premiership match at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Both goals came in the first-half through Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Nathan Sinkala respectively. The result leaves the two clubs in ninth and 10th place on the log standings after two rounds of fixtures.
The first shot in anger fell at Vincent Pule’s feet in the 19th minute. The Pirates winger created space for himself on the edge of the area but could only succeed in guiding his left-footed shot straight into the grateful hands of Lee-Raoul Langeveldt.
Pirates opened the scoring in the 32nd minute following a mistake by the Stellies goalkeeper. Langeveldt misjudged a corner-kick which Pule nodded into Gabadinho Mhango, the ball bounced off the Malawi international and into the path of Nyauza who bundled the ball over the line from close range.
Stellenbosch pulled level 10 minutes later. Paseka Mako was caught with the ball in a dangerous area and duly punished as Jayden Adams found Sinkala who directed a powerful header past Richard Ofori, who made his debut in the Pirates goal.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead on the cusp of halftime, but having done so well to beat the offside trap Ashley du Preez failed to beat Ofori, who stood tall to make a crucial save.
Pirates dominated most of the second-half and came close to regaining the lead in the 71st minute. Zakhele Lepasa raced onto a pass from Happy Jele and beat Langeveldt to the ball, but Alan Robertson cleared from danger.
The Buccaneers continued to turn the screw with Stellies’ defence tested to the limit, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Nyauza 32′)Stellenbosch FC (1) 1 (Sinkala 42′)
Orlando Pirates: Ofori; Mako (Makgaka 87′), Jele, Hlatshwayo, Nyauza, Motshwari, Dlamini (Dzvukamanja 46′), Makaringe, Pule, Hotto (Monyane 46′), Mhango (Lepasa 46′)
Stellenbosch FC: Langeveldt; Van Heerden, Robertson, Mthethwa, Johannes, Macheke, Scott (Mbekile 82′), Sinkala, Skelem (Isaacs 70′), Adams (Msengi 70′), Du Preez (Moon 69′).© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
