- 11 AUG 2020
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates played to a 0-0 draw as Absa Premiership football returned for the first time after lockdown at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday evening.
Neither team got out of second gear on a night of few chances. A point takes Sundowns up to 45 points, three points behind league leaders Kaizer Chiefs but now having played the same amount of games as the Soweto club. Pirates move up to third following the stalemate.
It took the whole of 23 minutes for the first shot in anger. Sphelele Mkhulise found space down the right flank and picked out Themba Zwane who’s shot was well saved by Wayne Sandilans at his near post.
Pirates first real chance almost resulted in a goal in the 57th minute. Fortune Makaringe burst through the heart of the Sundowns defence and looked sure to score but Denis Onyango’s fingertips pushed the ball onto the woodwork and away from danger.
Luvuyo Memela made the desired impact off the bench and forced another save out of Onyango in the 68th minute.
Pirates continued to create the better of the chances and should’ve opened the scoring seven minutes later but Ntsikelelo Nyauza failed to hit the target with his header from close range.
The Buccaneers continued to knock on Onyango’s door and Paseka Mako looked sure to break the deadlock in the 85th minute after dancing his way past Ricardo Nascimento and into the penalty area, but he could only manage to drag his resulting left-footed shot wide of goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 0Orlando Pirates (0) 0
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango; Lebusa (Langerman 74′), Nascimento, Madisha (Arendse 90+1′), Mkhulise, Coetzee, Kekana, Lakay (Jali 63′), Zwane (Vilakazi 90+1′), Makgalwa (Meza 74′), Maboe.
Orlando Pirates: Sandilands; Maela, Jele, Nyauza, Mabaso (Monyane 90′), Motshwari, Makaringe, Mako, Pule (Zungu 90′), Mulenga (Memela 46′), Mhango (Mabasa 90+4′).©
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
