By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Betway Premiership title race will go to the final day after Orlando Pirates’ played 0-0 draw with Durban City at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates must now go to a desperate Orbit College on the final day and win. Anything short of that and the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will claim the league title for a ninth season in a row.
The Buccaneers are now two points behind the Brazilians and must win next weekend to prevent the defending champions from retaining the trophy.
If Pirates do not win the league, they may look back on home games such as this one, and draws against Siwelele FC and Richards Bay, as stumbles in the campaign that cost them dearly.
Pirates enjoyed 76% of the possession but mustered only two shots on target and City had one shot in total, which was off target.
It was one-way traffic right from the first minute, with the hosts constantly frustrated by City’s defence led by eventual Man of the Match Siphamandla Ncanana and goalkeeper Fedrick Asare, who was determined to impress with retiring keeper Darren Keet on the bench.
Asare produced two saves, denying Relebohile Mofokeng in the 26th minute and Thalente Mbatha in stoppage time, while City defenders bravely blocked several goal-bound shots.
Pirates continued to pile pressure on City, but Asare was in inspired form, producing two more excellent saves: first denying Mofokeng in the 53rd minute and then Oswin Appollis with 15 minutes left on the clock, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Despite the relentless pressure, neither side could find the breakthrough as the full-time whistle confirmed a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate.
Meanwhile Kaizer Chiefs claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Elsewhere Golden Arrows and Stellenbosch FC secured identical 2-0 wins as Magesi FC’s chances of surviving relegation were left slimmer after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches played on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s Betway Premiership results:
Chippa United 0-2 Golden Arrows
Polokwane City 1-1 Marumo Gallants
Richards Bay 1-1 Sekhukhune United
Siwelele 1-0 Magesi
Stellenbosch 2-0 Orbit College.