Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates and Royal AM settled for a share of the spoils after playing to a 1-1 draw at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday evening.
The draw extended Pirates winless run to four matches in the league and they remained seventh on the standings, while Royal AM, who are now undefeated in their last six games, moved up to fourth place on the log.
Pirates started well in a high-tempo first-half and they should have grabbed an early goal when Fortune Makaringe set up Tshegofatso Mabasa, who missed a sitter with only goalkeeper Hugo Nyame to beat three minutes into the game.
The two teams continued to attack each other with speed and the deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when Levy Mashiane scored with a simple tap in to hand Royal AM a 1-0 lead after being set-up by Victor Letsoalo, who had stolen possession from Happy Jele inside the box.
However, Pirates fought back and they levelled matters after Tshidiso Monamedi gave away possession near the right touchline and Linda Mntambo scored with a stunning long-range effort to make it 1-1 on the stroke of halftime.
Pirates suffered a blow after the restart as their inspirational captain Jele, who had scored against Cape Town City and Diables Noirs this month, picked up an injury four minutes into the second-half and he was replaced by Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Both teams launched attacks in the closing stages of the game and the last chance of the game fell for Letsoalo in stoppage time, but Mpontshane came out to deny the Bafana Bafana international to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.