Absa Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 2-2 Cape Town City
Date: 19 September 2018
Venue: Orlando Stadium
A brace from Ayanda Patosi saw Cape Town City come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Orlando Pirates in a league match on Wednesday night.
The Soweto giants looked to be turning the corner after securing back-to-back wins over Black Leopards and SuperSport United.
The home side started well and opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Agustine Mulenga latched onto a long ball from Thembinkosi Lorch and duly beat the city keeper from 14-yards out, 1-0.
Pirates doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Innocent Maela headed home a corner-kick from Lorch at the back post, 2-0.
On the half hour mark, Lorch came close to finding the third for the Buccaneers when he met a right-wing cross with a ferocious 16-yard volley, but his effort shaved the wrong side of the woodwork.
Pirates controlled the rest of the half, but were unable to add to their tally as they took a two-goal lead into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Norodien almost pulled a goal back for City when he drove forward with venom, beating two defenders before firing inches over the crossbar from 20-yards out.
Just after the hour mark Pirates went close to scoring when Xola Mlambo produced a powerful shot on goal from the edge of the box, but the City keeper produced a fantastica acrobatic save to deny him.
City began the come back with 20 minutes remaining in spectacular fashion when Patosi controlled the ball with his chest before volleying into the top left corner from 20-yards out, 2-1.
Eight minutes later, City drew level with Patosi’s second goal as he curled a left-sided free-kick into the far corner of the goal from 24-yards out as Siphelele Mthembu purposefully stepped over the ball to confuse Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshae, 2-2.
Both teams threw players forward in the final ten minutes, but neither side could find a winner as they shared the spoils on the night.
As a rsult The Buccaneers missed the chance to move level on points with Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic, and now sit third spot.
Here is how they lined up.
Pirates: 40 Mpontshane, 4 Jele, 2 Nyauza, 23 Maela, 8 Matlaba (12 Shonga 84’), 20 Mlambo, 27 Motshwari, 3 Lorch (32 Mntambo 77’), 45 Pule (11 Memela 64’), 29 Mako, 17 Mulenga.
Subs: 16 Mabokgwane, 35 Thopola, 36 Da Silva, 12 Shonga, 32 Mntambo, 42 Maphangule, 11 Memela.
City: 1 Leeuwenbergh, 15 Cupido (30 Martin 68’), 45 Kwanda, 4 Kouassi, 5 Edmilson, 17 Norodien (37 Kateregga 85’), 10 Patosi, 19 Putsche, 26 Nodada, 7 Links, 9 Rusike (25 Mthembu 60’).
Subs: 16 Stephens, 6 Seedat, 23 Matsi, 42 Baartman, 37 Kateregga, 30 Martin, 25 Mthembu.
