Johannesburg – A second half Lehlohonolo Majoro strike rescued a point for Orlando Pirates in their 1-1 Premiership draw against Moroka Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday night.
Veteran forward Siyabonga Nomvethe opened the scoring in the 35th minute to give Swallows the lead, while Majoro equalised in the 77th minute.
The encounter saw both teams take turns to dominate each half during the oldest Soweto derby.
Pirates tried to unlock the defence on the flanks with Sifiso Myeni, who posed some early danger with his burst of pace.
Myeni made a run into the box in the fifth minute but he passed the ball into no man’s land.
Minutes later, Pirates talisman Oupa Manyisa combined with Myeni in the centre of the pitch.
Their superb touches saw the Swallows defence retreating back, but the ball was then repossessed by Happy Jele.
With Pirates having deployed Kermit Erasmus and Majoro to lead the attack, it was all out warfare on the Swallows back-line.
In a surprising tactical ploy by coach Fani Madida, defender Ashraf Hendricks was utilised in the striker's position.
With his strength and dominance on the ball, the experienced Hendricks troubled the Pirates' defence and kept them on their toes.
Majoro received a nifty lay-off from Erasmus in the 11th minute inside the box but an accurately timed challenge from Rudi Isaacs eliminated the threat.
Swallows winger Dikgang Mabalane broke three challenges to whip-in a cross that sailed over the heads of the players in the box.
Pirates looked to capitalise on a rebound in the box from a set-piece as central defenders Siyabonga Sangweni and Rooi Mahamutsa posed some danger with their aerial prowess.
Sangweni missed a free-kick header when the ball flew inches over his head after an Issa Sarr delivery in the 23rd minute.
In the 30th minute, Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo was tested with a curling corner-kick that he handled with confidence.
Swallows striker Nomvethe was marked closely by Sangweni, who shielded him with authority from the ball when attempting to set-up a shot.
However, when the opening goal came, the veteran striker smartly pulled away from the defence to see his side-footer hit the back of the net after a Lucky Baloyi cross.
Rattled by the goal, the Buccaneers lost the ball far too easily to the opposition who held things tight at the back.
Pirates had the bulk of the possession in advanced positions but it was the Dube Birds who had showed more lethal instincts.
The ball possession in the early stages of the second half was dominated by the visitors as they went in search of the equaliser. The home side was pinned back in their own territory and were forced to absorb the pressure from the rampant Pirates.
Sensational Pirates midfielder Mpho Rakhale was the catalyst in the equaliser after splendid combination play with Erasmus and Majoro. – Sapa