Saturday morning’s DStv Diski Challenge match between Orlando Pirates Reserves and Royal AM at Mpumalanga Stadium concluded in a 2-2 draw, despite the Reserves’ brilliant start.
The Bucs Reserves entered the match in the middle of the standings after a home loss to AmaZulu and were seeking their third victory of the season in their sixth outing.
Lebo Mohlala turned on the style on the left wing in the fourth minute before combining with Mehluleli Maphumulo, who skied his attempt, as they sought an early advantage.
Sonwabo Khumalo met a cross from Samukele Kabini and confidently slotted in the game’s first goal one minute later.
Maphumulo took the ball from the middle of the field, made a wonderful move down the middle, and finished beyond Royal AM goalkeeper Lungisani Mncwabe to give Pirates a two-goal lead just seven minutes into the game.
Although the Buccaneers were able to put distance between themselves and the home team on the scoreboard, they maintained pressure on the home team with an intense pressing style.
Midway through the first half, the hosts finally began to assert themselves, attacking through the wings without troubling the Pirates’ goal.
A counterattack by the Soweto Giants’ Jabulani Mokone and Maphumulo, whose shot was blocked by Mncwabe at the half-hour mark, may have resulted in a 3-0 lead.
Two minutes prior to the end of the first half, Mohlala attempted a long-range shot for the Buccaneers, but replacement goalkeeper Holwethu Manci was able to block his attempt.
In the 47th minute, Bucs goalkeeper Siyabonga Dladla was forced to make a long-range stop in response to a long-range shot from Royal AM.
They continued to exert pressure on the visitors and were rewarded five minutes into the second half when Pirates defender Siyabonga Ndlozi was penalized for a foul inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick that was scored to make the score 2-1.
Siphamandla Mdunge, one of the newly-introduced players, went behind the defense on the flank before crossing the ball into the penalty area, where the home team was able to clear.
In the final stages of the game, the young Thwihli Thwahla recovered control, forcing the Buccaneers back into their own half. Dladla was forced to make a series of stops, while Kabini and Ndlozi worked overtime to cut off the supply into the box from the flanks.
Their perseverance nearly paid off in the 79th minute, when Dladla was finally defeated, but the score remained unchanged due to Cassius Spandiel’s timely intervention, which thwarted a clearly goal-bound attempt.
Moments before the final whistle, the equalizer was scored, creating a frantic end to the match.
The Bucs Reserves were unable to hold on to their early advantage in the face of a spirited second half from the home team, resulting in a draw.
Pirates Reserves XI: Dladla, Spandiel, Ngiba, Ndlozi, Kabini, Molepo, Mndebele (Bule 60′), Khumalo, Mokone (Mdunge 65′), Maphumulo (Ndaba 65′), Mohlala (Moremi 60′).