Incessant rains nearly spoiled one of the most anticipated matches this season, which ended in a 1-1 draw between Orlando Pirates and Swallows FC at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Sunday afternoon.
Despite Pirates and Swallows managing to score a apiece during the Soweto derby, the rain resulted in the pitch becoming almost
unplayable.
Ben Motshwari netted for the Buccaneers while the Dube Birds’ goal came from Kamogelo Mahlatsi.
Swallows were forced to make a change before the 20th minute mark after Thabo Matlaba pulled a muscle while making a run. Matlaba was replaced by Sifiso Hlanti.
Both sides launched raids into each other’s box, but no goals were scored in the second half.
The Buccaneers thought they had a penalty in the 70th minute when it looked like Fortune Makaringe had been fouled inside the box.
However, match referee Jelly Chavani and one of his assistants Sibusiso Sisilana ruled that Makaringe had taken a dive. As a result
of the dive, Chavani booked Makaringe.
The first goal of the match came when Motshwari scored for the Buccaneers in the 85th minute and it looked like Pirates were going to become the first team to clip Swallows’ wings. But Mahlatsi had other
ideas as he netted on the stroke of full time to deny Pirates a win.
The outcome of the match means that the Birds’ unbeaten streak continued as they have won six times and drawn four matches since the beginning of the season in October. On the other hand, the Buccaneers
have won three matches, drawn five times and lost once.
Meanwhile, AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy picked up his fourth point in two matches since taking over the coaching of the Durban club in December.
McCarthy led Usuthu to a 1-1 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung on Sunday.
Mzwanele Mahashi scored for Phunya Sele Sele in the 34th minute and Augustine Mulenga equalised for Usuthu in the 30 minutes later.
