Tricky wing combination a highlight of Orlando Pirates match

28 April 2016 - 09:04 By Marc Strydom

Orlando Pirates could not get themselves into anywhere near their top gear and had to settle for being held to a 0-0 Absa Premiership draw against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night. Orlando Pirates could not get themselves into anywhere near their top gear and had to settle for being held to a 0-0 Absa Premiership draw against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.After the intensity of their weekend Nedbank Cup quarterfinal heroics against Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Pirates struggled to find momentum in unfamiliar home surroundings.Bucs’ home venue‚ Orlando Stadium‚ was unavailable because it had to be left vacant four days before Saturday’s EFF manifest launch there.Bucs had wanted to win their last five games to push for a top three place‚ but could not lift themselves to overcome Julio Leal’s game City.Pirates coach Eric Tinkler opted for what seemed a strange solution to the suspension of centre-back Edwin Gyimah after his red card in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sundowns in Atteridgeville. Issa Sarr came in‚ but so did Rooi Mahamutsa‚ and both went to centre-back alongside Ayanda Gcaba‚ as Tinkler played three in central defence.Pirates had Sifiso Myeni and Mpho Makola in their central midfield‚ but both in attacking roles‚ leaving a hole where the bridge should have been between defence and attack.It made it difficult for Bucs to get the ball forward against a Polokwane side who seemed ripe to be broken down by a solid attacking strategy.The result was the in-form Buccaneers‚ who had won eight of nine league and cup games before Wednesday night‚ only had two first-half chances. Their tricky little wing combination of Thabo Qalinge and Luvuyo Memela were prominent in both.In the 12th minute Tendai Ndoro was played in by a chip from Qalinge and saw a shot blocked‚ Qalinge hitting the rebound wide.It took until five minutes before the break for Bucs to pry a second opportunity. Memela had the ball with a three-on-two to Pirates and Sifiso Myeni free to his side. The winger opted to beat Tshepo Tema‚ and his shot-cum-pass was pushed out by City goalkeeper George Chigova.Sarr was sensibly pushed up into the defensive midfield area that had been left vacant by Pirates at the start of the second half.Bucs‚ though‚ still could not find their stride.It was Polokwane left-back Simphiwe Hlongwane’s dipping volley‚ comfortably dealt with by Brighton Mhlongo‚ that was the best chance of the opening 20 minutes of the second half.Pirates tried to be clever with two diagonal passes from a set piece that never quite worked‚ but did fall for Sarr five metres out whose overhead kick could as easily have gone in than missed.Thobani Mncwango’s well-struck free-kick was awkwardly parried by Mhlongo. In the final minute Sarr gave the ball away for Mncwango to run through and force a save off Mhlongo’s legs.- TMG Digital/TMG Sport ..

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