Pirates fail to topple Baroka
DESPITE scoring first through Justice Chabalala, Orlando Pirates failed to win their Absa Premiership tie as they drew 1-1 against Baroka at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium last night.
A late bicycle kick by goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke handed the Premier Soccer newcomers a deserved point at home.
Resulting from this stalemate, the Soweto giants now sit at number six with 17 points from 10 matches in their campaign.
Baroka got the contest off to a bright start, creating a wonderful opportunity in the seventh minute, but Geofrey Massa was denied by goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane from close range.
The first 10 to 15 minutes saw Kgoloko Thobejane’s side controlling the match and they did not give their visitors too much time on the ball.
Tendai Ndoro managed to force his way into the box, beating his marker, but his final attempt at goal went wide on the right of keeper Masuluke’s posts.
In the last 20 minutes of the first half, fouls were dominant as referee Phillip Tinyani issued four yellow cards in six minutes.
Just three minutes after the return from the tunnel, the visitors found the back of the net through Chabalala when he headed home from Luvuyo Memela’s corner.
The hosts continued to dominate as they probed for an equaliser, and they introduced Tsepo Matete, whose attempt from the d-line lacked poison, allowing Mabokgwane to easily collect in the 67th minute.
However, six minutes into injury time, Masuluke netted an acrobatic equaliser when Pirates failed to clear a corner from the right. The keeper improvised with a brilliant finish to hand the hosts a point.
The draw took the Premier Soccer League newcomers to the 10th spot on the log table with 11 points after 11 matches so far.
● In the battle of the stars, Free State Stars crushed Platinum Stars 3-1 at the Goble Park Stadium last night to rack up their first win in the Absa Premiership this season.
Free State claimed the lead in the 12th minute, with Mbuyiselo Thethani firing home a left-footed shot after some fine attacking play by the hosts.
The hosts continued where they left off in the early minutes of the second half, forcing Steven Hoffman into a couple of sharp saves.
Platinum had offered very little in attack for most of the match, but midway through the second half they almost claimed an equaliser through Robert Ng’ambi, only for the Malawian to be denied by an excellent save from Thela Ngobeni.
That chance gave Dikwena hope of a comeback, but that was soon quelled by a goal for Free State’s Danny Venter to make it 2-0: the winger beat Hoffman with a rightfooted shot in the 79th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
A minute later Sekotlong made it 3-0, while the Rustenburg side was at least able to claim a consolation goal when Henrico Botes converted a late penalty. — BackpageTXT