AmaZulu deny Pirates

21 August 2014 - 02:37 By Mazola Molefe
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TAKING NO PRISONERS: Rooi Mahamutsa of Orlando Pirates controls the ball away from AmaZulu's Nhlanhla Shabalala during last night's entertaining Absa Premiership match between the two sides at Orlando Stadium, Soweto
TAKING NO PRISONERS: Rooi Mahamutsa of Orlando Pirates controls the ball away from AmaZulu's Nhlanhla Shabalala during last night's entertaining Absa Premiership match between the two sides at Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Image: LEFTY SHIVAMBU/GALLO IMAGES

It could be another strange season for Orlando Pirates.

On the verge of a fifth cup final in a row later next month, the Buccaneers were held to a 1-1 draw at home against AmaZulu last night.

The stalemate put further pressure on coach Vladimir Vermezovic as Pirates are yet to win an Absa Premiership match this season.

AmaZulu spent much of the first half absorbing the pressure until former Pirates forward Bongani Ndulula was hacked in the box by Rooi Mahamutsa.

Ndulula got up in the 27th minute to convert the spot kick and give Craig Rosslee's men a shock lead.

Utility defender Thabo Matlaba again bailed out Pirates when he equalised on the hour mark. T he Bafana leftback finished off a well-orchestrated attack, which was started by substitute Sifiso Myeni.

It looked like Matlaba had wasted the opportunity when he held on to the ball longer than expected, only to finish calmly after turning Usuthu defenders like a page.

Ndulula had hoped to spoil the party - he put the knife in during a league opener between the two clubs last season at FNB Stadium in August last year. He only had one chance and he buried it.

He was hard done-by seconds before the half-time break when referee Lwandile Mfiki did not award him a second penalty.

Only ever a threat in patches, Ndulula took out two Pirates defenders and, just as he was about to shoot, was brought down yet again by Mahamutsa.

Mfiki blew his whistle - to caution the striker for simulation.

Vermezovic finally gave striker Lehlohonolo Majoro more than just five minutes for the first time this season. But the former Kaizer Chiefs man was quite rusty.

He could have sealed victory for Pirates in the 85th minute, but keeper Tapuwa Kapini pushed his shot out of danger.

Mark Gleeson writes from Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto, that Mamelodi Sundowns outplayed Moroka Swallows last night, winning 2-0 away as they put aside early jitters in a must-win game.

Sundowns looked anxious through the first half but Mame Niang unshackled them early in the second half as a giant weight was lifted off their shoulders after they had failed to win in their opening three encounters of the season.

Substitute Kudakwashe Mahachi scored with a sidefooter for a second in the 83rd minute as Swallows ended the game down to 10 men.

A second caution for Lantshene Phalane let down his side just when they needed to push forward in search of an equaliser.

Swallows had a disciplined approach through the first half as they sat back and created a defensive wall that Sundowns found hard to penetrate.

Marc Strydom reports that Bidvest Wits earned their first home Absa Premiership victory of the season. The Students won 1-0 against Maritzburg United in a fast but scrappy game at Bidvest Stadium last night.

A 22nd-minute howler from United goalkeeper Shu-aib Walters gifted Wits the lead. Defender Mohamed Awal was shielding Sthembiso Ngcobo from an innocuously bouncing ball into the area, which Walters could not collect.

This allowed the Wits striker Ngcobo to touch into an open net.

The Students had a let-off in the 76th minute when Ashley Hartog burst into the area and shot powerfully onto the left upright.

On the breakaway in the 87th minute Ngcobo hit the side-netting when he should have scored.

  • Trailing by two goals at half-time, Free State Stars struck three times in the second half to beat Supersport United 3-2 at Charles Mopeli Stadium in Bloemfontein last night.

Thuso Phala and Dove Wome found the net for Supersport, while Angula Dacosta and Rudolft Bester scored two of the home side's goals. The other was an own goal by Supersport's Thabo Moloi.

  • Chippa United suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Pretoria University at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Ronald Ketjijere and Atusaye Nyondo scored for AmaTuks. David Zulu pulled one back for United.

  • Mpumalanga Aces went down 2-0 to Platinum Stars at Mbombela Stadium, in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. The scorers were Vuyo Mere and Robert Ng'ambi.
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