Orlando Pirates missed the chance to reclaim second on the DStv Premiership table after being held to a goalless draw by Cape Town City.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 0-0 Cape Town City
Date: 02 March 2022
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Brice Ambina was handed his starting debut by City coach Eric Tinkler. For Pirates, Thembinkosi Lorch and Happy Jele were replaced by Fortune Makaringe and Ntsikelelo Nyauza, who was given the captain's armband.
Olisa Ndah created the first opportunity with a brilliant long diagonal down the left to release Deon Hotto, whose first touch could have been better but he struck the volley well nevertheless and it grazed the top of the crossbar.
The Bucs continued knocking the ball around crisply and soon after Kabelo Dlamini lifted the ball over the top for the run of Bandile Shandu, who took it down and let the ball bounce before his powerful volley was tipped over the bar by City goalkeeper Hugo Marques.
The impressive Shandu once again threatened. The ball was played into the feet of Kwame Peprah, who laid it into the path of the right-back and the right-back's good first-touch took him clear on goal but his shot was straight at the keeper.
A free-kick was delivered from the left to the back post with Thamsanqa Mkhize heading the ball back across goal. It came to Ambina, who flicked on for Tashreeq Morris, whose close-range effort was well saved by the legs of Mpontshane, while Thabo Nodada's classy effort towards the top right corner was also saved..
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Action resumed with Pirates still the side on the front foot. Five minutes in, Dlamini combined well with Hotto and delivered to the near post but Peprah couldn't glance his header enough to get it on target.
Soon after City captain Mkhize was dispossessed on his own byline by Peprah, who squared to Makaringe at the back post and his low effort was repelled by the legs of Marques.
City then threatened after a corner was headed out and delivered back to the back post for an unmarked Mkhize, who was about to pull the trigger when he was denied by a last-ditch interception from Pirates defender Olisa Ndah.
Another glorious opportunity went begging for the Bucs. Dzvukamanja showed a clean pair of heels to his marker before squaring it for Lepasa, who failed to get it out of his feet allowing Taariq Fielies to come across and make the block.
As the referee blew his full-time whistle, the Bucs would have been wondering how they did not manage to come away with all three points despite completely dominating the encounter.
Here's how they lined up:
Pirates: 40. Mpontshane, 5. Nyauza, 49. Ndah, 26. Shandu, 29. Mako, 15. Makaringe, 16. Monare, 20. Mosele, 18. Dlamini, 11. Hotto, 46. Peprah
Subs: 30. Sandilands, 27. Dzvukamanja, 32. Mntambo, 25. Lepasa, 23. Maela, 17. Jooste, 7. Mhango, 6. Motshwari, 4. Jele
City: 1. Hugo, 2. Mkhize, 12. Fielies, 4. Fasika, 14. Mashego, 21. Mokeke, 29. Ambina, 10. Mdantsane, 9. Gonzalez, 26. Nodada, 20. Morris.
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 15. Cupido, 22. Fisher, 30. Martin, 48. Rhodes, 27. Goedeman, 28. May, 17. Mayo, 6. Mokhuoane
