By Michael Madyira
Cape Town Spurs were back to frustrate Orlando Pirates after restricting the Buccaneers to a 1-1 Premier Soccer League draw at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.
What started as a promising evening for the Sea Robbers ended up being two points dropped, as Relebohile Mofokeng’s 12th-minute goal was cancelled out by Gadiel Kamagi with 14 minutes to go.
PSL basement side Spurs asserted themselves as the Buccaneers’ bogey opponents this season.
Earlier on in the term, the Urban Warriors recorded their first victory of the campaign and ended an eight-match losing streak by edging Pirates 2-1 at the Cape Town Stadium.
They now travelled to Gauteng to deny the Soweto giants victory again; and Jose Riveiro’s men blew away an opportunity to go second on the table and remain in fifth place.
It was a missed chance by Pirates to close in on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who had their match against TS Galaxy postponed by the PSL after the latter were involved in a road traffic accident on Tuesday.
Crucially for Spurs, they reduced the gap between them and 15th-placed Richards Bay to two points and boosted their bid to avoid relegation.
Mofokeng’s sublime curler off a long ball from Mbatha thrust Pirates ahead as they threatened to hammer their visitors, but they began wasting chances.
The Buccaneers could, however, feel robbed after substitute Zakhele Lepasa was kicked by Denwin Farmer inside the box in stoppage time but the referee waved away Pirates’ protests for a penalty.
Meanwhile, Chippa United were the biggest winners of the evening after beating Richards Bay 3-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Two first-half goals from Justice Chabalala and Craig Martin, as well as Kayden Francis’ 76th-minute strike, handed the Chilli Boys a convincing victory.
After claiming maximum points, Chippa climbed four rungs up the standings to 10th position, while Richards Bay now risk being overtaken by Spurs and dropping to the bottom of the table.
At Peter Mokaba Stadium, Maloisane Mokhele’s 12th-minute goal helped Sekhukhune United edge visiting Royal AM 1-0.
Babina Noko moved one place up the ladder to position seven as Royal AM slid down to 13th spot.
Pictured above: Man of the Match Talente Mbatha vies for possession against Cape Town City’s Liam Bern
Image source: Orlando Pirates
