Orlando Pirates battled back to secure a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu in their penultimate Betway Premiership encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates made three changes from the side that started against SuperSport United as Sipho Chaine, Deano Van Rooyen and Relebohile Mofokeng returned.
Defender Sandile Mthethwa looked to haunt his ex-club in the 11th minute through a header towards the bottom-corner, but Chaine produced a save.
Pirates were called to make a substitution midway through the first half when Mbekezeli Mbokazi suffered an injury and had Tapelo Xoki come on in his place.
The change didn’t unsettle the Buccaneers, who nearly went ahead when Maswanganyi went inches wide from the right of the area from after lay-off by Van Rooyen.
Pirates continued to have chances later on in the half through Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa, but neither capitalised and instead fluffed their lines.
Youngster Mohau Nkota missed a golden chance a minute to halftime when he dragged a through ball to the area well wide of the mark, as the two sides went into the break all square.
Usuthu were slow out of the blocks five minutes in the second half and were forced to make a change in goal as Richard Ofori made way for Andile Mbanjwa.
The chances were largely limited minutes inside the resumption, but Thembela Sikhakhane had a chance from a corner-kick but he went wide.
A slice of good fortune came through for the host around the closing stages and saw Maswanganyi direct a goal-bound effort from Tshepang Moremi into his own net.
Pirates didn’t lose confidence and found a way back around the final ten minutes as Simphiwe Selepe pounced on a cross to the area and finished smartly.
Moremi went close to restore their lead with a teasing attempt from a promising position, but he was parried as the clash ended all square.
Confirmed line-up:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Hotto, Selepe, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Nkota, Mabasa
Subs: Dladla, Dansin, Radiopan, Ndlozi, Moleleki, Madiba, Xoki, Kimvuidi, Tshobeni
AmaZulu: Ofori, Sikhakhane, Ngobeni, Mphahlele, Mthethwa, Fielies, Motshwari, Zungu, Ighodaro, Mashigo, Moremi
Subs: A. Mbanjwa, Jooste, Dube, Mzobe, M. Mbanjwa, Brooks, Human, Ekstein, Mulenga
