The Absa Premiership Title dream for the Buccaneers may begin to fade with a ten points margin with their rival Amakhosi who has dominated the top of the log for a couple of months now. Orlando Pirates have now gone four games without scoring a goal as they drew with Bidvest Wits on Saturday night.
Pirates made two changes from the draw with Mamelodi Sundowns, as Luvuyo Memela was recalled alongside Xolani Mlambo while Wits had similar alterations, with Sifiso Hlanti returning from suspension with Keegan Ritchie.
Wits had a good chance to go to the break with a with two minutes remaining of the first stanza after Haashim Domingo received a teasing cross from Zitha Macheke in the of the box but his glancing header missed the bottom corner by a whisker.
The Clever Boys got off to a lively start in the second stanza, as Domingo hit the post just a minute from the break while Ritchie could not capitalise from the rebound as Pirates desperately cleared their lines.
At the other end, Memela nearly broke the deadlock for the Buccaneers three minutes later with a dipping free-kick from the edge of the box that was tipped over the bar by Goss.
Josef Zinnbauer went for a double change just after the hour mark as Nkanyiso Zungu came on for Memela in a tactical switch while Linda Mntambo replaced Fortune Makaringe for fresh legs in a straight swap in midfield.
Gabadinho Mhango had a brilliant chance to break the deadlock for Pirates with 22 minutes remaining after going through on goal but Goss produced a breath-taking save to parry his goal-bound strike away towards the far post.
Pirates had hopes of a late goal with another after Tshegofatso Mabasa and Thabiso Monyane were introduced, but they lacked momentum and so did Wits, as the shared the spoils were shared on the night.
Here’s how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: 40. Sandilands, 29. Mako 23. Maela, 4. Jele, 5. Nyauza, 45. Pule, 6. Motshwari, 20. Mlambo, 15. Makaringe, 11. Memela, 7. Mhango.
Subs: 1. Delle, 27. Ndengane, 21. Zungu, 44. Mabaso, 32. Mntambo, 18. Dlamini, 34. Monyane, 17. Mulenga, 16 Mabasa.
Bidvest Wits: 23. Goss, 13. Hlanti, 29. Gordinho, 3. Hlatshwayo, 24. Macheke, 17. Alexander, 14. Nange, 27. Ritchie, 10. Domingo, 11. Hotto, 37. Dzvukamanja.
Subs: 16. Mhlongo, 8. Monare, 15. Mkhwanazi, 19. Eva Nga, 28. Machu, 26. Human, 36. Sekgota, 38. Mathebula, 41. Mlonyeni.
This article was previously published on soccer laduma
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