Orlando Pirates were kept quiet by AmaZulu on their return to DStv Premiership action, with the two sides playing to a goalless draw in a scrappy affair at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.
Resuming their league campaign 34 days since their last fixture in the competition, the Buccaneers were looking for three points that could haul them up from 14th place in the standings
Their attempts at making the most of a nervy start from the hosts proved unsuccessful as chances at goal were kept to a minimum during the opening exchanges.
It wasn’t until the 15th-minute mark that the Buccaneers managed their first shot on target, provided by Thabiso Monyane who drilled the ball towards goal from a tight angle with Usuthu keeper Veli Mothwa gathering after an initial fumble.
That was a rare moment of excitement in a half characterised by physical confrontations, with attacking opportunities proving hard to come by at both ends of the field.
The second period was played at a noticeably higher tempo but goals continued to elude the visitors, despite their dominance in possession.
Thembinkosi Lorch did spark an opportunity in the 53rd minute when his ball from the left flank failed to connect with the boot of Evidence Makgopa, who slid in attempting to find the decisive touch.
The left side of the field remained the busier of the two flanks with Lorch later linking up with replacement midfielder Karim Kimvuidi, who opted for an acrobatic effort but could not connect well enough with the ball to trouble Mothwa.
Makgopa headed wide from close range in the 76th minute, as Pirates upped their intensity in search of the opening goal.
They pinned the hosts back inside their own half for much of the game’s dying moments, with Monnapule Saleng teeing up Thabang Monare who launched wide from the edge of the box.
This was before Patrick Maswanganyi yielded a similar outcome from close range when he got on the end of a clever chip from Kimvuidi, showing impressive control in freeing himself up to shoot but hitting his effort off target.
There was no breaking the deadlock in the end, as the Buccaneers took a single point on the road to climb up one spot on the table to 13th place.
Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Xoki, Ndah, Monyane, Hotto, Baloni (Ndlondlo 65’, Timm 85’), Monare, Maswanganyi, Makgopa (Lepasa 76’), Lorch (Saleng 76’), Erasmus (Kimvuidi 65’).
