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Orlamdo Pirates held by Free State Stars

Pirates held by Stars

Posted: Sep 8 2010

Free State Stars carved out the niche as ‘draw masters’ in last season’s Absa Premiership, and they look well on course to retain their crown in 2010/11 after holding Orlando Pirates to a 0-0 stalemate at Soccer City on Wednesday evening.

It was Ea Lla Koto’s second successive 0-0 draw this season (their first was in their opening game against Santos) and completed a hat-trick of goalless Pirates-Stars league fixtures after both PSL matches between the sides last season also failed to produce any goals.

The first half saw the teams trade a large number of scoring chances, but the attempts at converting those opportunities were not worthy of a venue that hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.

In a game that flowed from end-to-end and saw the sides alternate periods of dominance, Pirates created the first opportunity in just the second minute when Happy Jele floated a ball from the right flank toward the far post.

Winger Daine Klate rose highest to meet the cross but saw his header tuned away for a corner kick by Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

That scoring opportunity set the tone for the rest of the half: chances were spurned with alarming regularity, though both Mweene and his counterpart Moeneeb Josephs deserve some credit for a string of fine saves.

The best save of the first half saw Josephs show off his excellent reflexes with a block on Madoda Motha’s fierce left-footed drive – the former Black Aces forward had sliced through the Buccaneers’ backline with disarming ease.

Mweene made several fine stops, denying the likes of Klate, Tlou Segolela and Nigerian striker Ezenwa Otorogu, who all should have done much better with their opportunities.

The best chance of the first half fell to Segolela in the 42nd minute, with the flyer racing clear on the counter attack only to balloon his shot over the crossbar with just the keeper left to beat.

The tempo of the game slowed dramatically in the second half, but the theme of spurning scoring chances remained prominent.

The two best opportunities fell to the feet of Segolela. Early in the second stanza he was played in on goal by a clever back-heel from Otorogu but only succeeded in shooting straight at Mweene.

And with just over 20 minutes to play, Segolela’s pace saw him get in behind the Stars defence yet again but, with Mweene having sprinted off his line to pressure the Pirates man, he chipped the ball wide of the target.

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KidKudu7: 2010-09-08 22:32

...and Ruud Krol is sidelining a striker of this calibre, nxxx hayi maar unjani wena Krol, hahh??

We need lethal strikers to help us collect the points in order to win the Premier Soccer League title this season. Got it!!!

KidKudu7: 2010-09-08 22:32

...and Ruud Krol is sidelining a striker of this calibre, nxxx hayi maar unjani wena Krol, hahh??

We need lethal strikers to help us collect the points in order to win the Premier Soccer League title this season. Got it!!!

KidKudu7: 2010-09-08 22:33

...Nxxxx, yeeer Ruud Krol, jou ma se gat. Moron!!!

KidKudu7: 2010-09-08 22:34

Where is Chiukepo Msowoya???

KidKudu7: 2010-09-08 22:35

Chiukepo Msowoya was supposed to play in this game...sick moron Krol!!

Iniestadinho: 2010-09-08 22:49

Never in my life seen a stuborn coach like Krol Msowoya even though he came back late he is match fit than Otorogu and I smell something for you on Saturday and don't understand why he loan Mthembu instead of Mabena that boy is not good @ all......

Smallicious : 2010-09-09 02:18

Hard luck to AmaBhokobhoko, better luck next time, not that u've lost thou but i expected more 4rm u. good luck 4 the cup game this wknd.

bazooka: 2010-09-09 05:32

Krol, Mabena and Manyisa are going to be escorted by Nyala on saturday. We are tired of this coach, where is Schalkwyk, Mongala, Makhanya etc. He is destroying our players with his favouritism.

Kagiso R: 2010-09-09 06:03

Was Tlou paid not to score?? and Mabena...why is he still making the starting eleven?? It seems 0-0 draw is still going to be normal for Pirates

potsiso1 : 2010-09-09 06:11

sorry buccaneers but with so many new signings, u'll need 2 b a bit patient with coach bfr he gets his winning combination but so far it seems lk klate is the only 1 who gt a guaranteed place in the team as 4 strikas thr'll always b rotation thr, play 1 game score zero nxtgame bench bt crusly speakin pirates ddn't need malokase, i even thnk pirates should stop buyin playas frm celtic since thy fail 2 make impact in black n white jersey, the lks of jurie merahe, schwalkwyk, mothibantwa n nw malokase n mayambela after a season supportin bucs thy'll b loaned out. Gudluck 4 ur game on saturday, chiefs gt a record of a goal per game frm charity til lstnyt so u should prepare ur strikers 2 pul 1 back on saturday.

alphar : 2010-09-09 06:17

nx are we just gona sit around n watch this thin called krol destroy our team or are we gona do somethn b4 sat we dnt wana draw wit iwisa kaizer fish n chips i said it after the 2 fluke wins that ths thin is gona cost us n wateva hes smokin wit mabena McTeko shud start smokin it 2 since this b!tch doesnt wana play him! n wt ws malokase doin in there? nx!

Alphar (i h8 bucs coach n if i had a gun wit 2 bullets id shoot him...twice) : 2010-09-09 06:36

I h8 pirates captain gud point wat was wrong wit the team that beat santos simple they were a winnin combo n we all knw this sh!t head called krol doesnt want us 2 win!

Tolly-ba-Thathe : 2010-09-09 06:53

Fellow Buccaneers, please let us exercise an element of perseverance tuu. This is our team, we can't be srting to press panic buttons on the second game, northwithstanding the chances we terribly missed. We are @ 4 points, supersport hv 3 it shows also that teams plan for us, we musn't expect walk on the path, please Mabakaniya a mantle.

Kali: 2010-09-09 08:46

Hehehe, has someone seen that the log as it stand will probably be theb log come season-end?

Champ Mriyo (Trebble kings of SA): 2010-09-09 08:56

Krol is confused,Chansa indicated he ws tired early 2nd half bt was left 2 playa while Ngobeni is sitin on da bench.Krol is makin same mistakes frm last sezin by nt tryin otha playas in case sum1 gets injured.I hav neva bn a fan of Krol n neva wil b even if he wins MNT8.He is still @ bucs coz most blacks think every WHITE European is gud.

Patrick: 2010-09-09 09:25

Yho!yho!why insulting your mentor like that guys,what happen to Spainish like team called op now,where everyone can score,shame pierats poor fans.give him a time to polish the team,is too early for you guys to insult,support your team morons.k4l-Ndumiso MHK

Msathe: 2010-09-09 09:48

@Patrick, we no insulting any1, 1st Coach must realize there aint no time to tell us he's trying combinations, Question's how long?, he's been playing pre-season games so what the heck now?, If he can't get it into hios players head that scoring is important or just get players who can score then he must resign coz he aint got a plan...Next thing's excuses..development n all that my A****ss. He aint no development coach his job is to win games, not develop the likes of Mabena..sit the olk on the bench n get us some players who can win us games or atleast who knows what to do when facing the goal mouth..GGGGGG this Krol ware tella hle!!!

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-09-09 09:49

Krol is declaring Life & death::::

Mr krol you bench Teko, you declaring life and death. Meaning you must win all matches. No matter how much you admit Teko is oFF-form, we need him on the pitch non-stop. if you want to please Media by benching Teko you will kiss Pirates goodbye. why did you listen Media?Just Look what will Happen to Pitso Mosimane. Hez putting himself in an akward position by benching Teko. IF Bafana loose in the absence of "the Navigator" Hez gone. Dont be fooled by Pitso for Benching Teko.

Im telling you Krol , you dont have to play Teko as sub. we need him 90 minutes. After the game against Santos you says the Team have found a good rythm,but you change the starting line-up against Vasco for your favourate players. Stop chopping and changing the line with 5 players each an everygame. u can change only 1 player.

Media, especially Soccer Laduma, Kickoff & football 365 wont be there when we ask you why you bench Teko. Dont risk your life Mr krol. Teko need game time. Problem you listen Media too much & you r arrogance & you have favourism. Stop listening Media & play Teko. I prefer the starting line-up you used against Santos. why put so much faith in Otorogu? he never scored even a single goal in PSL, but you already putting too much faith on him. This tells me you listen media tooo much. who tells u Otorogu is the real deal? those Journos who influences you wont be around when we showing you the door.

K-lab: 2010-09-09 10:12

@ Mr editor

"It was Ea Lla Koto’s second successive 0-0 draw this season".

But Sir u r killing me sotly there.

K-lab: 2010-09-09 10:16

@ Smallicious : 2010-09-09 02:18

"good luck 4 the cup game this wknd".

Yah nhee!cauz he really needs it, you shiuld remind him that a draw takes Chiefs to the penalties,which is something dat no coach in de Psl wants.

Wonder: 2010-09-09 10:24

Don't mind this Pirates, just do the job on the weekend...!!

Wonder: 2010-09-09 10:24

Don't mind this Pirates, just do the job on the weekend...!!

dick: 2010-09-09 11:49

Useless Pie-city...I said it yesterday that they are not going to win and m still confident that they are not going to win on saturday night against my beloved team Amakhosi...

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-09-09 11:51

yaaa!!!!

steve : 2010-09-09 17:59

i wanda weda w hv 2 blym d coach or bad lck is ova bucs ship. Gud lck on sat.