Absa Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 11 August 2020
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Orlando Pirates did their rivals Kaizer Chiefs a favour by holding Mamelodi Sundowns to a goalless draw as the Absa Premiership returned on Tuesday night.
Click through the gallery to see action from the clash between Sundowns and Pirates.
Sundowns made two changes from their win over Bidvest Wits as Keletso Makgalwa and Lyle Lakay, who both scored in the win, were rewarded with starts. Meanwhile, Pirates announced just before the start of the match that Thembinkosi Lorch and Justin Shonga were excluded from the squad for breaching team protocol.
The sides got off to a slow start, knocking the ball around without any speed in attack but Sundowns got into another gear after 20 minutes, as Themba Zwane forced a save out of goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands at the near post after going through on the right side.
The game opened up after half-an-hour and Pitso Mosimane's charges felt they should have had a penalty ten minutes before the break after Happy Jele appeared to handle inside the box but the referee was not persuaded.
Vincent Pule had a chance to break the deadlock for the Buccaneers two minutes before the break after beating an offside line inside the box to go clear on goal on the right side, but he dragged a right-footed shot wide as the sides went to the break goalless.
The second stanza started with an increased intensity as Pirates had a glorious chance to get the breakthrough just before the hour-mark after Fortune Makaringe dribbled his way clear inside the box and although he beat shot-stopper Denis Onyango, his low strike came off the upright.
Pule came very close to catching Onyango off his line with a looping strike from a diagonal angle outside the box with 21 minutes remaining but the Ugandan goalkeeper tracked back quickly to parry his dipping effort over he bar.
Sundowns were losing their steam in the last quarter of an hour, with Josef Zinnbauer's troops having the momentum and the Buccaneers almost snatched the lead in this period as Ntsikelelo Nyauza headed over from six-yards out.
The chances continued to fall for the Soweto giants after Paseka Mako went clear in the centre of the box but with only Denis Onyango, his effort was blocked by Motjeka Madisha's out-stretched leg.
The sides were still fancying a late winner in the latter stages but they were unable to carve out clear chances as they settled for the share of the spoils, as Sundowns moved within three points of Kaizer Chiefs, who can move six points clear with a win over Wits on Wednesday night.
Here's how they started:
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 33. Maboe, 5. Lebusa, 3. Nascimento, 2. Madisha, 40. Coetzee, 21. Mkhulise, 8. Kekana, 7. Lakay, 18. Zwane, 26. Makgalwa.
Subs: 1. Mweene, 11. Vilakazi, 36. Mkhuma, 13. Mabunda, 23. Meza, 15. Jali, 4. Langerman, 32. Lukhubeni, 6. Arendse.
Pirates: 30. Sandilands, 23. Maela, 4. Jele, 5. Nyauza, 44. Mabaso, 45. Pule, 6. Motshwari, 15. Makaringe, 29. Mako, 7. Mhango, 17. Mulenga.
Subs: 1. Delle, 27. Ndengane, Zungu, 32. Mntambo, 20. Mlambo, 11. Memela, 18. Dlamini, 34. Monyane, 16. Mabasa.
