JOHANNESBURG — Coach Augusto Palacios insists Orlando Pirates were unlucky not to walk away with all three points in the original Soweto Derby after their goalless draw against Moroka Swallows on Wednesday night in the Absa Premiership.
The Buccaneers went top of the Premiership table, one point above second place Mamelodi Sundowns, who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Platinum Stars.
Bucs created a lot of chances, but were denied by the combination of some top-class goalkeeping from Greg Etafia and the woodwork — three times.
“It was very up-tempo game, very difficult, but we didn’t have the luck,” Palacios said. “I think we controlled the game. We had several chances. Swallows also had their chances, but our players were in too much of a hurry in the final third.”
Swallows coach Gordon Igesund concurred with his Pirates counterpart, admitting that his team were lucky to get a point, as Pirates could have wrapped up the match in the first half. “From our point of view the first half was not a good half for us — credit to Pirates, they came at us in numbers. I think we were defending a little bit too deep. But at the end of the day I think in the first half they had some very good chances and we survived those opportunities, which they never took,” Igesund said.
Santos’ flirtation with relegation grew even stronger on Wednesday night as they went down 1-0 to SuperSport United at the Athlone Stadium.
Jomo Sono’s woes continue as Jomo Cosmos were beaten 2-1 by Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday.
Two goals in the first half from Ruzaigh Gamildien and Thokozani Mshengu secured victory for the visitors while the consolation goal, scored by Alton Meiring, was not enough to salvage a result for Ezenk
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