Orlando Pirates held by Magesi in Maela’s last game

Orlando Pirates were unable to give captain Innocent Maela a perfect send off when they were held to a 1-1 draw against Magesi FC.

Maela, who will hang up his boots and take up a position within the club structures, was given a rare start in his last match for Pirates. And as he walked off the field after he was replaced by Yanga Madiba in the second half, Pirates fans gave him a standing ovation and sang his name.

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The brave crowd that braved the cold weather was treated to some entertaining football and goals. Unlike in their previous three games, Pirates were at their usual best with players like Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota delighting the fans with their skill and flair.

Patrick Masanganyi gave the Buccaneers a perfect start to the match by giving them the lead in as early as the seventh minute. After Pirates were awarded a free kick out wide on the left, Mofokeng cleverly laid the ball in the path of Maswanganyi who beat Elvis Chipezeze with a low shot.

Nkota almost doubled Pirates’ lead in the 16^th minute when he outpaced the defender and unleashed a powerful shot, but this time Chipezeze managed to make a good save to deny him.

Thalente Mbatha was unlucky not to score the second goal for the Buccaneers in the 26^th minute after he was found by a perfect pass from Mofokeng. The midfielder took a first time shot and the ball hit the upright.

Edmore Chirambadare was to make Pirates pay for these misses in the 32^nd when he found the equaliser for Dikwena tsa Meetse. The Zimbabwean winger was set up by Thabang Sibanyoni and he beat Sipho Chaine with a low left-footed shot.

The score was 1-1 at the break.

The home side started the second half much like the first by taking the game to the visitors. They almost regained their lead in the 53^rd minute through Nkota, but his long-range shot went narrowly over the crossbar.

Chipezeze made sure that the visitors took a share of the spoils when he produced a great save to deny Nkota in the 72^nd minute.

Following the draw, Pirates finished the season in second place with 61 points after 28 games, while Magesi ended the season in position 12 after collecting 31 points from the same number of games.