At Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday night, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United fought to a scoreless draw to earn a point for themselves away from home.
The Buccaneers went to meet a United team that had already played on the field three times this season but had not yet added to their win total after winning away to Royal AM in the middle of the week.
Captain Innocent Maela and Thembinkosi Lorch, who both began from the bench after participating in all four League games thus far, were replaced by defender Tapelo Xoki and midfielder Vincent Pule.
Early on, it was clear that the hosts would not award the visitors an easy three points since they came out firing in the opening exchanges.
Within the first two minutes, the home team had a clear-cut chance, but Bradley Grobler was unable to put the ball in the goal after receiving a cross from Thapelo Maseko.
Before the Buccaneers got a chance of their own, they had to work hard.
After 25 minutes, however, Miguel Timm’s turnover in the centre of the field sparked an onslaught that culminated with Vincent Pule setting up Deon Hotto for a just missed effort from the left side of the field.
The next extended stretch of play took place in United’s half. During this time, Pule had a chance to score after cutting inside from the right before forcing George Chigova to make a stop.
Although Pirates had continuous possession, their chances to score dried up as halftime drew near, and United was content to stand back and let the visitors’ pressure build.
They began the second period in stark contrast to how they closed the first, with Timm, Bienvenu Eva Nga, and Vincent Pule each getting chances in short succession.
The greatest of these belonged to the Cameroonian attacker, who received a feed from Goodman Mosele before Chigova deflected his attempt towards goal.
As the visitors continued to press forward, Kabelo Dlamini was the next Pirates player to be in position for a goal-bound shot, but he was only able to misfire to absolve the home team shortly after the hour mark.
The Buccaneers made a total of four substitutions in the second half, and it almost turned out to be a brilliant decision as one of the newcomers, Zakhele Lepasa, nearly changed the outcome with a last-second snap effort that fizzed over the far post.
Although it was quiet at the other end, SuperSport came close to winning it in the dying seconds when former Pirates striker Thamsanqa Gabuza blundered his lines in front of a goal that was open. Gabuza just needed to put the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Iqraam Rayners of United had two more opportunities, and Lepasa came close to scoring a late winner, but the game ended without a goal, giving the Buccaneers four points on the road before they return to their home field in midweek.
Ofori, Ndah, Sibisi, Xolo, Mosele, Timm, Monyane, Hotto, Dlamini, Pule, Makaringe, and Eva Nga make up the Pirates XI.