Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu played out to an entertaining 1-1 draw in their DStv Premiership encounter at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.
Romain Folz came into the fixture for his debut since succeeding Brandon Truter Usuthu but he already had a chip on his shoulder, having lost at the same venue with Marumo Gallants. It was his first and only defeat during his brief stay and he was clearly aggravated as he inisisted the outplayed Pirates in their own backyard.
Playing with a 4-3-3 that formed into 4-2-3-1 at times, Usuthu looked vibrant and up for the challenge as 36-year-old Lehlohonolo Majoro led the line and caused headaches for the Pirates back-three, as they looked to target Oilsa Ndah.
And it gave them great joy at times, but the finishing touch was missing as he spurned two chances in the opening 20 minutes. Pirates went on to have some excellent chances of their own but found Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Veli Mothwa in inspiring form.
The deadlock was eventually broken when Richard Ofori bundled over Majoro in the area – a challenge that saw the former Pirates striker stretched off – before Sphesihle Maduna stepped up calmly to slot the ball into the top right-hand corner.
Usuthu seemed buoyed by the opener but their excitement got the better of them just before the break when they lost the ball on transition and Kermit Erasmus’ shot hit the upright and went in off Mothwa to make it 1-1.
In the second half Pirates looked the more threatening and were rewarded for their endeavours when they received a penalty on the hour mark for a handball inside the area, but they missed the chance to take the lead as Nkosanathi Sibisi’s effort was saved by the in-form Mothwa.
Much to the dismay of the home fans and technical area but they continued pushing looking to get back to winning ways, Kwame Peprah was brought on for the final 15 minutes for the tiring Erasmus but the change proved.
