Pirates Disappointed with Goalless Draw Against 10-Man Stellenbosch
Orlando Pirates faced a frustrating goalless draw against a resolute Stellenbosch squad, who played the entire second half with ten men, in a Betway Premiership clash at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening.
This stalemate means Pirates, now sitting in second place in the league, have fallen further behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who have extended their lead to 18 points at the top after a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu. It’s notable that Sundowns have played four more matches.
Despite their relentless attempts, Pirates struggled to break through a robust Stellenbosch defense, a performance that will surely be a source of satisfaction for coach Steve Barker.
This result leaves Pirates coach Jose Riveiro still in pursuit of his first league win against Stellenbosch in Cape Town, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, this could have been his last opportunity.
The only time Pirates celebrated victory in Cape Town against Stellenbosch was during the first leg of the 2023 MTN8 semi-final. They later went on to win the same competition against Stellenbosch in Durban in October, a match marred by controversy.
Pirates last claimed a league win over Stellenbosch in Cape Town back in November 2021 when Deon Hotto scored twice, and Collins Makgaka added another, under the joint management of Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi.
While Pirates succeeded in the MTN8 this season, Stellenbosch outperformed the Soweto giants in their league matchup, with Devin Titus netting the crucial goal in the reverse fixture. This positions Stellenbosch strongly, having claimed four points from Pirates this season after accumulating six points in the previous season.
As anticipated, the match was intensely competitive, reflecting Stellenbosch’s recent progress under coach Barker.
Although clear-cut chances were scarce, the most pivotal moment occurred in the 35th minute when Brian Onyango received a red card. He seemingly fouled Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was on a clear run towards goal. Referee Jelly Chavani initially brandished a yellow card but changed it to red after consulting his assistant, a decision that stirred controversy.
Kabelo Dlamini’s resulting free kick struck the crossbar, intensifying Barker’s frustration, especially given his belief that Stellenbosch was treated unjustly in their Nedbank Cup quarter-final defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
With the numerical advantage, Pirates increased the pressure on the Stellenbosch defense, who opted to clear the ball whenever possible.
Even with dominating possession, Pirates struggled to find the back of the net in the first half.
Relebohile Mofokeng, responsible for breaking through the defense, nearly set up a scoring opportunity early in the second half, delivering a cross that resulted in a blocked shot from Nkosinathi Sibisi amidst a crowd of defenders.
As Pirates sought to secure a breakthrough, the increasingly agitated crowd at Athlone Stadium expressed their frustration.
In the 76th minute, Mofokeng linked up with Deano van Rooyen, and his shot prompted a save from Oscarine Masuluke.
Just two minutes later, a header from Mabasa was rightly flagged for offside.
As Pirates pushed for a winner, Kazie Enyinnaya’s curling shot nearly caught goalkeeper Sipho Chaine off guard, but he managed to make the stop. Stellenbosch remained resolute, securing a vital point and maintaining their third-place position.