Orlando Pirates dropped points in the race for CAF Champions League football as they drew 1-1 against fellow Nedbank Cup finalists Sekhukhune United in their final home game of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
In a game that previewed the final before the actual final at Loftus Verfeld on 27 May – it promised much with both teams playing for something.
Pirates, in their final home game, were looking to solidify their claim on the second place for CAF Champions League football and Sekhukhune for their top-eight ambitions, something which is an added bonus for Brandon Truter and is troops ahead of a domestic cup final.
Brakkies found the team in a relegation mire when he took over from Kaitano Tembo and was mandated to retain the top-flight status, while Jose Riveiro, who arrived with skepticism from the football fraternity has been one of the revelations of the season.
But for all the pre-match talk, it was the man of the moment Terrence Dzvukamanja, with his seventh league goal in his ninth start opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark.
However, it didn’t last too long as former Buccaneer, Edwin Gyimah leveled matters after Pirates failed to clear their lines from a corner.
It was always going to be a dead-ball situation for Babina Noko to get past Sipho Chaine, as Truter’s low block with a five-man defence showed little impetus to be on the front foot or dominate possession at Esgodini.
With the scores level at the break, the second half produced fewer opportunities, as Sekhukhune looked settled in their compact shape and waiting for opportunities to hurt the home side on transitions.
And they managed to hold on for a vital point that kept them in seventh place with one game to go in the league and frustrate the Soweto giants – who remain second but level on points with SuperSport United in the quest for CAF Champions League football ahead of the season finale.
