Orlando Pirates' Tshepang Moremi challenges Siwelele FC's Tebogo Potsane during their Betway Premiership match in Orlando on Saturday.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Orlando Pirates continue to struggle for balance in their Betway Premiership pursuit. If they are not grinding out a result, they are dropping points despite an improved performance.
Pirates dropped two invaluable points in a 1-1 draw with Siwelele at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon. The draw means Pirates extend their lead at the top of the table to 48 points, just one point over Mamelodi Sundowns, who still have a game in hand.
Pirates had managed to grind out maximum points in their last two matches against Polokwane City and Richards Bay with below-par performances. As such, they were expected to strike a balance here — to be clinical and entertain the Ghost in the stands.
But it wasn't to be. Pirates showed that they have a long way to go in knowing that an ambition to compete for the title comes with the onus of being able to win every game and rise to the occasion during crunch time — something that Sundowns have been accustomed to for the last eight successful seasons.
Pirates looked destined to bag all three points at first, with Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Kamogelo Sebelebele forcing Siwelele to chase shadows — a start that the Ghost, who once again formed an impressive outing in the stands, appreciated with applause and chants.
The trio were cutting through Siwelele’s engine room like a hot knife through butter, leaving their markers for dust and forming interchanges that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will hope to see them replicate in the national team ahead of the friendlies against Panama next week.
Broos must have been pleased with the start all round. Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss stood in the way of his Bafana teammates from finding the lead, making some blinding saves, almost justifying why he deserves to be the national team's third fiddle.
Goss notably tipped Yanela Mbuthuma’s scooped backheel over the crossbar, and saved Sebelebele’s shot and Lebone Seema’s header from close range as the Sea Robbers went for the jugular.
But as the clouds gathered, they momentarily brought a dark period for the hosts. Former player Vincent Pule put his side in the lead with a low, hard strike after being set up with a diagonal pass from Tebogo Potsane, moments after Nkosikhona Ndaba lost possession.
The Ghost didn’t lose their spirit, and voices in the stands continued to cajole their team. But Goss was having none of it in goal, ensuring a first-half clean sheet — including saving Mbuthuma’s header from Mbatha's shot from distance.
Pirates showed a championship mentality early in the second half, with Tshepang Moremi latching onto Mbatha’s through ball before blasting the ball past Goss, who was left flat-footed.
With the gloomy atmosphere offering a perfect set-up for the Ghost to thrive, they rallied behind their team in search of the lead. However, Moremi missed easier chances for his brace, failing to punish Goss after intercepting his clearance; the winger then pulled off a save instead of completing the goal.
A prodigal son in these parts after being sidelined for some time, Sipho Mbule was welcomed back onto the pitch with a standing ovation. His contribution was minimal, with Siwelele holding the challengers to a draw. Pirates lost two points that could come back and haunt them.