Absa Premiership

 

Result: Free State Stars 1-1 Orlando Pirates

 

Date: 04 March 2015

 

Venue: Charles Mopeli Stadium

 

Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars played out to a 1-1 draw at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Wednesday evening.

 

Pirates were in control from the onset, as the likes of Oupa Manyisa, Mpho Makola and Thabo Rakhale looked lively in the opening exchanges.

 

The visitors went ahead in the eighth minute, as a fine passing move ended up with Makola playing in Kermit Erasmus, who fired home a low left-footed effort from the edge of the area.

 

Stars, meanwhile, struggled to get their game going but nearly found themselves level in the 35th minute but Abdul Basit Adam's glancing sailed inches wide of the upright.

 

However, the Free State outfit leveled matters minutes later courtesy of a powerful strike from Moeketsi Sekola , which left Brighton Mhlongo with no chance.

 

Kinnah Phiri's men finished the half the stronger of the two sides and should have gone ahead just before the break, but Basit Adam managed to scoop his effort over the bar from three-yards out.

 

After a quiet opening to the second half, Stars should have gone ahead in the 58th minute, as Robert Sankara fired a tame effort straight at Mhlongo from three-yards out.

 

Stars were the better side for large of the second 45 minutes, which prompted Tinkler to introduce Thandani Ntshumayelo to bulk up in the midfield.

 

With a quarter of an hour remaining Mwape Musonda was brought on for his Pirates debut, along with Helder Pelembe, although the changes did not have the desired impact, as the score remained 1-1 at full time.

 

Pirates missed the chance to leapfrog Mamelodi Sundowns into third spot, while Stars remain in 13th spot.

 

Here's how they lined up:

 

Free State Stars: Mathole, Mashego, Sankara, Rakoti, Cardoso, Masehe, Kerspuy, Masana, Venter, Basit, Sekola

 

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo, Jele, Mahamutsa, Gcaba, Matlaba, Rakhale, Manyisa, Sarr, Makola, Erasmus, Bacela