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Urban Warriors spoil it for Bucs

Sport
CAPE TOWN — A fifth draw in a row for Orlando Pirates saw their championship hopes slip further away after a 2-2 stalemate with Ajax Cape Town

CAPE TOWN — A fifth draw in a row for Orlando Pirates saw their championship hopes slip further away after a 2-2 stalemate with Ajax Cape Town in a furious game at the Cape Town Stadium — arguably one of the matches of the season.

Report by Sapa

Four goals, two shots against the crossbar, a myriad missed chances, particularly from Khama Billiat, and play that swung from one end to the other throughout the 90 minutes made for a pulsating contest.

Ironically though, the result will not have helped either side, although the damage to Pirates’ cause is possibly bigger than the blow suffered by Ajax, who remain just above the relegation zone. Pirates coach Roger de Sa admitted they rode their luck a bit as Billiat was guilty of missing six clear-cut chances in an extraordinary performance marred by spectacularly poor finishing.

Billiat’s brilliance in creating opportunities for himself was spoilt by his poor finishing.

The game produced a 15-minute spell after half time that had the fans on the edge of the seats as Pirates came from a goal down at the break to take a 2-1 lead and then let the lead slip again.

A mistake from birthday boy Andile Jali proved decisive in the opening goal after just seven minutes for Abia Nale. Jali was caught in midfield and dispossessed by Tariq Losper, who played it to Billiat. Billiat had the presence of mind to play a quick ball wide to Nale who could afford to knock it on a little ahead of himself and still get to the ball before Senzo Meyiwa to give the hosts a dream start. It was the second goal in as many matches for Nale, on loan from Kaizer Chiefs and just back from a knee injury.

But Pirates should have been on level terms just five minutes later when the marauding Thabo Matlaba made space for himself down the left, but Cecil Lolo dispossessed him in the nick of time with a decisive tackle.

Takesure Chinyama hit the woodwork before halftime and got the equaliser with a header from Khethowakhe Masuku’s cross just after the break.

Minutes later Chinyama’s thumping shot cannoned back again off the upright with substitute Mpho Makola reacting quickest to put Pirates 2-1 ahead. But the furious action continued as man-of-the-match Lebogang Manyama fed Losper to equalise on the hour mark

Pirates have now gone six games without a win.

SuperSport United came from a goal down to grab a 2-1 victory over league strugglers Chippa United in their Absa Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville last night, reports Sapa.