Orlando Pirates challenge for the South African Premiership title took a knock on Sunday when they were held 1-1 at struggling Bloemfontein Celtic.
Striker Darryl Smith converted a 26th-minute penalty for second-from-bottom Celtic and South Africa midfielder Teko Modise levelled soon after with a tap in at Vodacom Park in the central city.
A draw lifted the second-placed 'Buccaneers' to 44 points, five less than defending champions SuperSport United with five rounds to go in the richest African football championship with a one-million-dollar first prize.
Only the bottom club is automatically relegated and Celtic are five points above Bay United, but the team finishing second last goes into play-offs with three second division clubs.
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Pirates were unlucky not to take maximum points before a capacity 40,000 crowd who created an electric atmosphere at one of four venues for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Striker Katlego Mashego saw an early shot rebound off the underside of the crossbar and television replays suggested the penalty awarded for a foul on Mark Mayambela by Lucas Thwala was harsh.
Mashego played a key role in the 32nd-minute equaliser with Cameroonian goalkeeper Amour Tignyemb unable to hold his close-range shot, presenting unmarked Modise with a simple task.
Pirates owned the second half with Modise foiled by the woodwork and Mashego going close several times to scoring the goal that would have given his side maximum points.
Sandile Ndlovu scored twice as Moroka Swallows ended a losing league streak by defeating Thanda Royal Zulu 3-1 in Johannesburg and AmaZulu edged Santos 1-0 in Durban through a Dumisani Ngwenya goal. - AFP
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