Pirates debutant Ndah cost club three points against City

Olisa Ndah’s Orlando Pirates debut saw the Nigerian defender cost the club three points after conceding a penalty that saw the Buccaneers play to a 1-1 draw with Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. 

Pirates had a good start into the match, scoring early on in the first half, before Cape City levelled matters in the second half.  

Besides City looking good on the ball in the opening minutes of the match, it was Pirates who would break the deadlock first. Vincent Pule’s inviting cross was gladly accepted by Happy Jele’s header, finding the back of the net to make it 1-0 for Bucs in the 13^th minute.

The home team tried a quick response, but  Fagrie Lakay’s shot was blocked with the attacker having made his way into the Pirates box. 

The Buccaneers almost got their second goal of the match after a Terrence Dzvukamanja pass found Tshegofatso Mabasa on goal, but City keeper Hugo Marques was quick out of his line to clear out the danger in the 20^th minute.

The game went into the break with the club from Soweto in the drivers seat. 

But the second half was a totally different ball game for both sides. Having enjoyed a good first half in his first start for Pirates, Ndah unfortunately conceded a penalty after handling the ball inside the box. That brought  the Mother City based club back into the game as Mduduzi Mdantsane calmly slotted the spot-kick into the net to make it 1-1 in the 52^nd minute. 

Pirates suffered an injury blow when Ndah was forced out due to an injury in the later stages of the game. 

But the game went on to be an affair that could have easily been won by anyone, with numerous opportunities created at both ends especially by the home side, but the teams failed to utilise their opportunities ending up sharing the spoils. 

Pirates have now collected nine points in their last six games of the league, wile Cape City are on six points having played five games.