Staff Reporter.
The original Soweto derby between Swallows FC and Orlando Pirates ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday evening.
The draw – the Birds’ 14th this season – sees them remain in fifth place on 38 points, while the Buccaneers are one point and one position above them.
The first real threat on goal came from Pirates in the 13th minute, with Vincent Pule firing on target from a free kick – Swallows goalkeeper Virgil Vries parried the ball up and into the path of Ntsikelelo Nyauza, but the defender couldn’t direct his header on target.
Two minutes later the Birds claimed the lead through an own goal from Bucs centre-back Thulani Hlatshwayo. Vuyo Mere provided a dipping cross from the right flank and Hlatshwayo attempted a stooping header to clear, but only succeeded in glancing it into his own net via the inside of the far post.
Swallows should have doubled their advantage on 33 minutes when defender Njabulo Ngcobo had a free header from a corner kick but failed to hit the target, while Pirates almost claimed an equaliser seven minutes later when a deflected cross from Siphesihle Ndlovu hit the far post – followed by a melee in the penalty area which saw several heroic blocks from the Birds’ defence.
The visitors spurned another chance to level the game eight minutes into the second half, with a defensive error allowing Deon Hotto clean through on goal – the winger just about managed to round Vries, but he was delayed enough for Ngcobo to recover to his goal line and clear a subsequent effort on target.
Bucs finally found an equaliser in the 75th minute, with substitutes Wayde Jooste and Tshegofatso Mabasa combining to level the game at 1-1. The former provided a fine cross for the latter, who got ahead of his marker and directed a header beyond the reach of Vries’ left hand.
Meanwhile AmaZulu FC secured a 2-1 win over TS Galaxy in a DStv Premiership match at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on Saturday evening.
The victory saw Usuthu climb up to second place on the league standings – three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, while the Rockets slipped down to 10th place.
Elsewhere Black Leopards and SuperSport United both extended their winless runs in the DStv Premiership by playing to a 1-1 draw at the Thohoyandou Stadium and Stellenbosch FC fought back to hold Bloemfontein Celtic to a 1-1 draw at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Other Results:
Cape Town City 3-0 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.