Rand Stadium witnessed Orlando Pirates Reserves and Stellenbosch Reserves play to a scoreless tie.
The Bucs Reserves were looking for their second win in as many games after their Soweto Derby victory on the opening weekend, and were facing a team desperate to get off the mark after suffering their first loss of the season.
In the initial forty-five minutes, there were few legitimate scoring opportunities.
Pirates winger Gomolemo Khoto had an opportunity to make it 1-0 after five minutes of superb work on the left flank, but a fortunate deflection inside the penalty area blunted the force of his shot, allowing the goalkeeper to make a simple save.
He continued to challenge the Stellies defense 15 minutes later as he maneuvered into a tight area on the touch line and found Surprise Matjeni on the inside, with the Bucs attacker missing the target with his shot.
Pirates Reserves goalkeeper Allesandro Du Plessis was called into action for the first time in the 25th minute to deal with a dangerous corner kick from the opposition, and he excelled by clearing the danger.
The remainder of the first half was dominated by the host team, but they were unable to break past the Stellies Reserves’ defense, which held firm to send the game into the locker room scoreless.
The visitors continued to remain deep in their own half during the second half, but a more determined performance by the youthful Buccaneers threatened to create gaps in the opposition’s defense.
Siphamandla Mdunge’s quickness on the right flank caused issues for the Cape Winelands team, and he was prevented by a well-timed block as he attempted to work his magic deep within the opposition’s half.
In the 61st minute, Samukele Kabini had the game’s greatest opportunity, advancing down the right side before striking the upright with the goalkeeper badly beaten.
As Stellenbosch committed players to the backline, the Buccaneers were forced to attempt shots from long range.
Wing-back Siyabonga Ndlozi missed from a distance, while second-half substitute Bheki Mabuza did the same from a free-kick position.
Despite dictating the speed of the game, the Bucs Reserves were unable to break through a strong defense and had to settle for a point, bringing their two-game total to four.
Pirates Reserves XI: Du Plessis (GK), Spandiel, Ngiba, Ndlozi, Kabini, Molepo, Bule, Khumalo, Mdunge (Moremi 74′), Khoto (Mabuza 58′), Matjeni (Maphumulo 67′).