Orlando Pirates almost lived up to their fans’ expectations that their team would resuscitate its ailing form at the expense of Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers and Brazilians played to a 1-1 draw at the iconic Orlando Stadium in Soweto in their second round Absa Premiership match. The teams’ first fixture went to the Buccaneers who beats Downs 3-0 at the Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria.
After their humiliating 2-0 defeat at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby last weekend, The Ghost fans were predicting that their team would stitch back its tattered form against Sundowns.
But that was not to be in a game of missed chances from both teams. Sundowns opened the scoring through Zimbabwean Khama Billiat, who had the easiest of tap-ins following a cross from Themba Zwane in less than five minutes into the start of the game.
The wounded Pirates immediately switched into top gear in search of an equaliser, with Sundowns resorting to defensive tactics.
The Buccaneers piled on the pressure and were duly rewarded in the 32nd minute when star striker Lennox Bacela scored.
The second half of the game was a see-saw affair, with both teams missing glaring chances. Bacela hit the upright to deny him a second goal before being substituted by Lehlohonolo Majoro who did not make much of an impact on the game.
Billiat was the biggest culprit in the Brazilians’ game of missed chances and the draw now means that Downs are third on the log after pacesetters Chiefs and Bidvest Wits, who beat Ajax of Cape Town 4-2 to somersault into second position.
