Orlando Pirates endured a frustrating evening at Orlando Stadium after being held to a goalless draw by Chippa United on Wednesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 0-0 Chippa United
Date: 27 April 2022
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Pirates were unchanged from the win over Simba on Sunday, as Kwame Peprah and Terrence Dzvukamanja led the attack, with support from Thembinkosi Lorch and Deon Hotto.
The Buccaneers were on the front foot in the early stages and Peprah came close to giving them the lead in the 15th minute with a glancing header that sailed wide of the far post after a cross by Innocent Maela.
The hosts continued to press Chippa high and Ntsikelelo Nyauza had a chance to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark with a towering header in the box but his effort cleared the crossbar.
However, the Chilli Boys had a better resistance towards the end of the first stanza as Janovane September forced a save out of goalkeeper Richard Ofori with a strike from range and the visitors remained resolute with a low block.
View 22 players you may have forgotten played for Orlando Pirates:
Pirates' early momentum in the second stanza was disrupted by Olisa Ndah's injury, who was replaced by Happy Jel, but Nyauza had a big chance just before the hour-mark after a knockdown by Peprah in the box but he blasted his volley over the crossbar.
The Buccaneers regained their attacking rhythm and made another change 20 minutes before time, as Tshegofatso Mabasa came on for Peprah looking to enhance his 'Super Sub' tag.
Lorch had the biggest chance for Pirates five minutes later after beating the offside trap to go clear on goal but his low curler was saved by goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua in a one-on-one.
Chippa were unfortunate not to punish the Buccaneers on a break attack seven minutes before time after Ofori tipped Bienvenu Eva Nga's header onto the crossbar from Sammy Seabi's cross.
The game was on the edge in the dying minutes, as Nyauza was denied the winner for Pirates from a header that came off the woodwork, leaving the sides to a share of the spoils.
The Buccaneers leapfrogged Kaizer Chiefs into fourth place while Chippa halted an 11-game losing streak in the league against Pirates.
Here's how they lined up:
Pirates: 31. Ofori, 5. Nyauza, 49. Ndah, 26. Shandu, 23. Maela, 42. Mabaso, 15. Makaringe, 11. Hotto, 3. Lorch, 27. Dzvukamanja, 46.Peprah
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 32. Mntambo, 20. Mosele, 18. Dlamini, 9. Mabasa, 8. Ndlovu, 7. Mhango, 6. Motshwari, 4. Jele
Chippa: 1. Kazapua, 4. Hanamub, 14. Mkhize, 35. Pfumbidzai, 23. September, 29. Mthethwa, 24. Zulu, 18. Makobela, 6. Seabi, 34. Mbenyane, 9. Eva Nga.
Subs: 19. Watenga, 8. Maloisane, 2. Mdunyelwa, 12. Matrose, 17. Sekotlong, 31. Dinge, 26. Sangare, 28. Lebitso, 36. Luthuli.
