Ten-man Orlando Pirates battled back to rescue a 1-1 draw against DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld.
DStv Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 17 February 2024
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Pirates had Bafana Bafana striker Evidence Makgopa in the line-up while goalkeeper Sipho Chaine returned from his injury and Monnapule Saleng was also restored to the line-up.
Sundowns handed Thembinkosi Lorch his debut in the line-up against his former side, as he joined Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro Costa upfront and the hosts also had Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams back along with Thapelo Morena.
The game got off to a quick start with fierce battles in midfield but the Buccaneers settled the better side after 15 minutes as Makgopa had two chances in quick succession saved by Williams.
Jose Riveiro's charges continued to have momentum as just before the half-hour mark Tapelo Xoki had a big chance from a clever set-piece but fired his shot straight at the Bafana shot-stopper.
Masandawana got into the game shortly after that as Shalulile came very close with a glancing header in the box that missed the bottom corner by a whisker.
However, the pace of the game slowed down in the closing stages of the second stanza and chances also dried up as the sides went to the break deadlocked.
The Buccaneers pressurized Sundowns in the early stages of the second stanza but they were reduced to ten men ten minutes from the interval after Miguel Timm got a second yellow card for a foul on Williams and was red-carded.
Shalulile should have given Rulani Mokwena's troops the lead a moment later after going one-on-one with Chaine but side-footed his volley over the crossbar.
Mokwena eventually made changes just after the hour-mark, as he gave new signing Matias Esquivel his debut in place of Bathusi Aubaas in a tactical and attacking change and also brought on Sipho Mbule in place of Lorch for fresh legs.
Sundowns started to get dominance after that and Marcelo Allende eventually broke the deadlock in the last 15 minutes with a low strike that took a deflection off Olisa Ndah and found the bottom corner.
However, Masandawana's lead did not last long as Xoki levelled matters for Pirates after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on him in the box by Abdelmounaim Boutouil from a corner situation.
The Tshwane giants pinned Pirates in their own half in the dying minutes but they could find their way through, as Riveiro's men held on to the share of the spoils.
Sundowns extended their lead at the top of the log to nine points, while the Buccaneers remain in fifth position.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 31. Williams, 27. Morena, 13. Boutouil, 43. Lunga, 5. Lebusa, 19. Aubaas, 21. Mkhulise, 11. Allende, 45. Lorch, 23. Ribeiro, 38. Shalulile
Subs: 14. D. Onyango, 6. B. Onyango, 44. Mdunyelwa, 33. Maboe, 24. Mbule, 15. Mendieta, 9. Esquivel, 7. Nku, 10. Sirino
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 23. Maela, 27. Xoki, 49. Ndah, 2. Monyane, 4. Timm, 16. Makhaula, 7. Hotto, 28. Maswanganyi, 14. Saleng, 17. Makgopa
Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 5. Sibisi, 37. Lebitso, 41. Mbatha, 15. Ndlondlo, 25. Kimvuidi, 45. Pule, 38. Mofokeng, 32. Marou
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