Pirates battle back for draw in four-goal thriller

Needing a win to keep breathing distance with leaders Bidvest Wits, Orlando Pirates strayed into a Highlands Park red ant army on the warpath in Tembisa, and rescued a thrilling 2-2 Absa Premiership draw on their return from the Christmas break.

The second half was nothing short of spectacular.

Sphiwe Mahlangu put Highlands ahead in the 58th, Thembinkosi Lorch equalised in the 60th, then Peter Shalulile had Park in front again in the 65th.

Kudakwashe Mahachi’s 81st-minute strike earned a relieved Bucs the draw.

After Wits’ 2-1 away victory against Free State Stars, Pirates needed a win to remain within three points of the leaders.

Promoted Highlands, in a more than creditable eighth place coming into the game, have given many teams hell at their compact, noisy home Makhulong Stadium.

So it was no wonder Buccaneers coach Milutin Sredojevic had a full-strength starting XI.

Even with that, and the suspension to star player Mothobi Mvala – their big midfielder topping the PSL scoring charts – Highlands gave them hell.

Pirates might have had three or four goals, coming out of the changerooms blazing.

Maela’s cross from the left struck the crossbar. Lorch attempted to steer a shot with the outside of his right foot, into the side-netting.

Bucs winger Vincent Pule played down the right and crossed low, Shonga unable to connect in the middle.

In the 57th Shonga, as he can, spurned a sitter.

Put down the middle by Lorch, the Zambian got the touch past Marlon Heugh, but softly enough for the keeper to be able to recover and dive and stop just in front of the line.

Highlands survived the onslaught, and for their persistence deserved their goal that came when Ndoro laid a pass to Mahlangu, who fired past Mphontshane.

That was just the start, though, of a breathtaking seven minutes.

Almost from the restart Lorch received a return pass from Augustine Mulenga on the right, beat a defender inside and then also beat Heugh.

Five minutes later, Shalulile broke onto Mahlangu’s pass down the middle, rounded Mpontshane and tapped in for a 2-1 lead to Park.

They clung onto that score for 16 minutes. Mahachi, on for Shonga, then latched onto an uncleared cross and side-footed past Heugh.

Other PSL results: SuperSport United 0-1 Cape Town City

Polokwane City 3-2 AmaZulu