Staff Reporter.
Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates played out a 0-0 draw in their DStv Premiership clash at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
The result means Stellies have now gone nine league matches without a win and remain in 12th place on the log, just two points clear of the relegation playoff spot and with all four of the teams below then having at least one game in hand
Pirates meanwhile, missed out on the chance to go third on the table, staying in fourth spot after a 10th draw of the season.
Stellies should have claimed the lead as early as the fourth minute: Jayden Adams saw his effort from a free kick parried by goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands and a follow-up from Nathan Sinkala hit the post, with the rebound falling kindly for Ashley du Preez but he struck over from close range with the goal gaping.
Du Preez had another chance on the half-hour mark when he sprinted onto a long ball over the top of the defence, but he had the ball nicked away from him just as he was about to shoot by the recovering Abel Mabaso.
Stellies continued to build pressure through the remainder of the first half, but the interval arrived with the teams still locked at 0-0.
Pirates had their first real threat on goal on the 50 minute mark, with Kabelo Dlamini firing a shot direct from a free kick which rattled the crossbar – though Stellenbosch goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt appeared to have the effort covered had it been on target.
The Soweto giants opted for a triple change just past the hour mark, introducing Vincent Pule, Fortune Makaringe and Ben Motshwari off the bench, yet the trio struggled to make a major impact on the game.
Pule did test Langeveldt with a shot from a free kick in the 82nd minute, but otherwise the visiting team was unable to carve out the kind of chances their opponents created in the first half – and ultimately it was the Maroons’ failure to capitalise on those opportunities that was the key facet of the match.
Pirates will next be in action on Sunday, 16 May when they host Raja Casablanca in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal, while Stellies’ next DStv Premiership clash is away to Swallows FC next Tuesday, 18 May.
Meanwhile Baroka FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AmaZulu FC in the DStv Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Tuesday afternoon.
The win saw Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele leapfrog Kaizer Chiefs into ninth place on the league standings, while Usuthu remained second on the log after their 16-match unbeaten run came to an end.