Aces stall Pirates' ship

Orlando Pirates slipped further back in the championship chase as they dropped two more points in a 1-1 draw against Mpumalanga Black Aces in Nelspruit last night.

It was a languid and tired-looking performance that keeps Bucs in fourth place - 12 points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs.

They did have the lead through Sifiso Myeni but held it for just 10 minutes and never looked sharp enough to add another goal.

Had Aces taken their chances on the counter-attack in the second half, they might have won the match, after equalising through Zamuxolo Ngalo. The point ensured that Aces moved up into the top eight for the first time this season.

But they were wasteful on several occasions, with the likes of Thabo Qalinge and Clifford Mulenga being the main culprits.

Pirates caused the first stir when Mpho Makola struck the upright with a glancing shot from the edge of the area in the 15th minute.

Aces' fullback Abel Mabaso played Pirates onside, allowing Lennox Bacela to run into space and set up Myeni to tap it home in the 22nd minute.

The home team protested against the goal but they will find that television replays showed it onside. But they turned their anger into a dominant spell in the midfield as they passed the ball around with aplomb before equalising through defender Ngalo in the 32nd minute.

He was unmarked in the Pirates' penalty area to tap home a cross from Qalinge on the right. Qalinge had skinned Lucky Lekgwathi to deliver a perfect ball into the box.

• A polished first-half performance saw Mamelodi Sundowns defeat Free State Stars 2-1 at Charles Mopeli Stadium, Free State, last night.

Goals from Anthony Laffor (15th minute) and Dove Wome (41st) settled the match. Moeketsi Sekola pulled one back for Stars with the last kick of the game.

Stars were reduced to 10 men when Daniel Cardoso was sent off for a late challenge on Lebohang Mokoena in the 82nd minute.

Stars were unable to field loan striker Richard Henyekane due to a contractual agreement with Sundowns.

The Brazillians took the lead when Surprise Moriri found Mzikayise Mashaba free on the left to square for Laffor to score.

Sundowns made it 2-0 through a build-up that involved Thabo Nthethe's pass from defence and Esrom Nyandoro's blocked shot.

The ball fell for Wome to half-volley into the roof of goalkeeper Daniel Agyei's net.

Sekola produced a spectacular 20m drive into the top-left corner four minutes into added time.

• A second-half goal from Vuyisile Wana ensured that Moroka Swallows beat struggling Golden Arrows 1-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto, and pick up their first league win this year.

Earlier, Swallows created a few chances for Siyabonga Nomvethe and Dikgang Mabalane, though neither was able to trouble veteran goalkeeper Arthur Bartman.

Abafana Bes'thende's first serious effort at goal was midway through the first half, with striker Bongi Ntuli forcing Greg Etafia into a comfortable save.

The Birds finally broke the deadlock just before the hour-mark.

Midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa provided a cross into the penalty area from a free kick and Wana found the back of the net with a header.

Additional reporting by Sports Staff and Backpage Media