Orlando Pirates were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chippa United in their DStv Premiership encounter held at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a return to league action for the Buccaneers, who were fresh off two successful outings at home and took to the road to face off against a side in search of its first victory of the season. The contest’s first real opportunity came in the seventh minute and was manufactured from range by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo who let loose from a fair distance out, drawing a save from Chippa keeper Stanley Nwabali.
The breakthrough came at the other in the 24th minute through a move sparked by Relebohile Mofokeng, who darted across the field from the right to link up with Monnapule Saleng on the left flank before delivering a superb low cross, which was turned into the net by Bandile Shandu, who bagged his second of the season.
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However, an extended period inside the Bucs half yielded the equaliser for the hosts, and it came through midfielder Goodman Mosele, whose curling shot from just inside the box evaded Chaine’s despairing dive as he slotted in on the far post to make it 1-1 with 26 minutes remaining. Bucs striker Zakhele Lepasa got close to grabbing his sixth of the season when he was played in by Saleng in the 77th minute, but his effort was blocked by Nwabali.
There was a chance at the other end for Mosele, who fired narrowly wide from long-range, while Mulenga was brilliantly stopped by Makhehleni Makhaula as he made a clean break on the right. Lepasa almost had a final say in the last minute of regulation time when his volley from inside the penalty area swung just wide of the target.
Despite an extended injury time, neither side could find the decisive touch as it finished deadlocked at Nelson Mandela Bay.