Orlando Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by a resurgent Cape Towns side, who have taken four points off the Buccaneers this season.
Two forced changes for Pirates saw Nkosinathi Sibisi come in for the suspended Olisa Ndah and Tshegofatso Mabasa preferred in place of the injured Evidence Makgopa.
A slow start followed for the Urban Warriors, who needed a quick reaction stop from goalkeeper Neil Boshoff to keep out James Monyane’s low penetrative shot from afar.
More shots from outside the box by the Buccaneers followed and put Boshoff in a spot of bother where Karim Kimvuidi and Mabasa moments of each other snapped wide of the near post.
Pirates eventually made their early dominance count after Relebohile Mofokeng ran out on the left of the area and came inside to place comfortably into the far corner.
The Urban Warriors almost pulled level with a flying shot from a smart angle outside the area by captain Chumani Butsaka, but he was courted by the post.
Forward Ashley Cupido also got a glaring chance through a delivery in the box, but uncharacteristically mis-fired the attempt.
Both teams put on substitutions at halftime, with Lesedi Kapinga on for the Buccaneers before Bradley Ralani and Boitumelo Radiopane turned out for Spurs.
Pirates very nearly added a second minutes in from a corner after the Urban Warriors failed to keep their lines in check, but Boshoff parried smartly.
The Urban Warriors gathered a bit momentum following the closing quarter and levelled as new signing Gabriel Michael raced into the area after a diagonal ball and fired in the top corner.
With time flowing by, Pirates were unable to regain the lead as a double save from Boshoff denied Kapinga and Xoki from a corner.
Tampers looked to boil over when substitute Zakhele Lepasa went down from Denwin Farmer’s challenge, with no foul nor penalty awarded despite the appeals -seeing the spoils shared in Orlando.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Maela, Xoki, Sibisi, Monyane, Makhaula, Mbatha, Kimvuidi, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Mabasa
Subs: Ofori, Mthethwa, Lebitso, Timm, Saleng, Hotto, Dlamini, Kapinga, Lepasa
Cape Town Spurs: Boshoff, Moroole, Phewa, Velebayi, Dortley, Cupido, Butsaka, Bern, Nkwali, Kwamagi, Maphethe
Subs: Dlamini, Ralani, Buchanan, Radiopane, Moosa, Mfecane, Gumede, Farmer, Maduna
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