Orlando Pirates were denied a third straight win in the DStv Premiership after a goalless draw against Richards Bay FC on Saturday afternoon.
Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Relebohile Mofokeng, Fortune Makaringe and Vincent Pule were showed a start by the Buccaneers following the Soweto derby win over Kaizer Chiefs.
It was a pretty quiet opening exchanges between the two, with the amount of scoring chances reduced to relative premium.
In actual fact, Richards Bay looked to go on the front foot when Yanela Mbuthuma burst in from a tight angle to get a shot in but Melusi Buthelezi parried.
Buthelezi was called to work again following the half-hour mark as he pushed across his area to turn away a penetrative effort from Thabani Gumede.
Pirates attempted to come in their own minutes gone with a long pass from Ndlondlo trying to allocate Pule, but the move fell apart and goalless it ended in the first half.
An early possession turnover from Pirates in the second stanza allowed Pue to step in the fray and attempt an audacious long-range lob which unfortunately cleared the woodwork.
Jose Riveiro’s men piled more pressure later on as Ndlondlo’s snap volley in a decent position albeit from way out dragged over the top.
The Spanish coach showed a statement of intent off the bench midway in the second half, bringing on Monnapule Saleng for Evidence Makgopa and a fit again Kabelo Dlamini ahead of Mofokeng.
Richards Bay looked to have a strong finish with an opening by Gumede outside the six-yard area, but he didn’t cause Buthelezi any problems.
Both teams couldn’t manage to break the deadlock as fulltime loomed and had to settle for a goalless draw, as the Buccaneers had Thabang Monare dismissed at the death.
Confirmed line-ups:
Richards Bay: Mabokgwane, Dlamini, Banda, Mthethwa, Mcineka, Komane, Barns, Mhlongo, Mbuthuma, Mthembu, Gumede
Subs: Manqele, Dube, Mabaso, Mabuya, Figareido, Makateng, Ndaba, Mohomi, Mngomezulu
Orlando Pirates: Buthelezi, Xoki, Ndah, Hotto, Timm, Ndlondlo, Maswanganyi, Pule, Makaringe, Mofokeng, Makgopa
Subs: Mpontshane, Erasmus, Sesane, Baloni, Kimvuidi, Dlamini, Saleng, Monare
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