Johannesburg – Relegation-threatened Maritzburg United earned an important point against Orlando Pirates in their Premiership on Saturday evening when they played to a goalless draw in Soweto.
Although the Team of Choice missed the chance to climb off the foot of the table, they are now level on 21 points with second-bottom University of Pretoria with two matches to play.
Ernst Middendorp’s men mustered the first opportunity just five minutes after the start of the game when Evans Rusike found space in the middle, beat two defenders and shot just wide off the target.
Ten minutes later, the visitors had another chance. Kurt Lentjies received the ball from Rusike, swivelled and let fly a shot that stung the palms of Brighton Mhlongo in the Pirates goal.
The Buccannears first clear cut opportunity of the game came a minute after the half-hour mark, Thamsanqa Gabuza’s left-footed shot across goal was well saved by Virgil Vries after he was put through by Thabo Matlaba.
The Team of Choice needed a goal desperately and threw men in their search. A brilliant counter-attack in the 65th minute afforded first half substitute, Sheldon Van Wyk an opportunity to open the scoring but he could only strike his shot straight at Mhlongo.
The lively Rusike almost broke the deadlock five minutes from time, but his curling effort from outside the box went agonisingly wide of the goal.
The visitors played valiantly and earned a valuable point in the context of the relegation battle as they move level on points with Tuks.
“They are a team that I feel have been slightly unlucky since the turn of the year. We matched them for effort but we didn’t play our game,” Orlando Pirates coach, Eric Tinkler said.
“I think it was close. We put everything in, kept the focus and the desire. We keep fighting and looking forward,” Maritzburg United coach Ernst Middendorp said.
– ANA