Pirates top-eight quest slowly fading away
Orlando Pirates quest for a top – eight is slowly fading away after the Buccaneers were held to 0-0 draw by Ajax Cape Town at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
Coach Kjell Jonevret of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
The result saw the Soweto giants drop to 11th spot on the league table with 33 points, while the Urban Warriors are eighth with 36 points.
There weren’t much clear cut chances created by the sides, however, there were incident where either side could have found the back of the net.
Ajax were first to threaten at goals when Prince Nxumalo broke through the right hand side, but his cross didn’t find anyone in the Bucs box as the ball past through across the poles of Jackson Mabokgwane in the first minute of the game.
On the 24th minute, some brilliant play by Thabo Matlaba and Thabo Rakhale saw a cross from the right side find Oupa Manyisa facing the poles, but the Pirates skipper’s shot went wide.
On the 35th minute, Pirates had another chance to test Brandon Petersen, however, Tendai Ndoro was quickly closed down by Mosa Lebusa inside the box to keep away.
The game went into half-time with the teams deadlocked on 0-0.
The tale of wasted opportunities continued in the second half, when a ball from a corner kick found Roscoe Petersen, but the defender blasted the ball over the bar.
In the hour mark, Bucs left back Marc van Heerden unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, but Petersen was well on guard to clear the danger.
Ajax also had an opportunity to break the deadlock after Neo Makua dribbled past Van Heerden to set-up Ndiviwe Mdabuka, but the midfielder’s effort flew wide in the 67th minute.
With the game going to the closing stages and no much clear cut chances created, Van Heerden tried his luck from range again with the ball on target, but Petersen made a great save as the teams went on to share the spoils.
