Pirates held to frustrating draw by Chippa United
Orlando Pirates were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Chippa United in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday.
Goodman Mosele came back to haunt Pirates with an equalising goal to deny them maximum points. The midfield maestro is on loan at Chippa from Pirates.
Pirates travelled to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to face Chippa with their tails high after thrashing Sekhukhune United 5-0 in the MTN8 quarter-finals on Saturday.
The Buccaneers were quick to test Chippa with Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo unleashing a long range shot in the seventh minute and it was parried away by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
ORLANDO PIRATES TAKE THE LEAD
Pirates opened the scoring in the 24th minute through Bandile Shandu after a well-worked move by youngster Relebohile Mofokeng.
The Jose Riveiro-coached team took a one-goal lead to the half-time break courtesy of Shandu’s strike.
The Gqeberha-based side made three substitutes at the start of second-half bringing in Luvuyo Memela, Graig Martin and Ronaldo Maarman. Siphesihle Luthuli, Thabiso Lebitso and Zuko Mdunyelwa were the players who made way.
The chances from Chippa coach Morgan Mammila looked to have been positive as they started piling pressure on Pirates.
Chippa was eventually rewarded for their efforts after finding an equaliser through Goodman Mosele in the 64th minute.
The Soweto giants made changes in attack, bringing in Katlego Otladisa and Thabiso Monyane in the place of Shandu and Mofokeng.
Meanwhile, the Chilli Boys nearly snatched the a winner in the late in the second-half through Augustine Mulenga who was dealt with by Makhehleni Makhaula.
Chippa were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Pirates box in the dying minutes. They however, failed to convert the free-kick as the game ended 1-1.
Pirates will shift their focus to the CAF Champions League as they take on Djabal of Comoros on Saturday.
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