Pirates held by Polokwane

Dove Wome handed Orlando Pirates a point in the Absa Premiership when they drew 1-1 against Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The draw sees Kjell Jonevret’s men occupying the ninth spot with 21 points from 18 matches so far, as they push to move up the log table.

Although the encounter got off to a cagey start, the wet conditions of the Orlando pitch made it difficult for both sides to play their preferred style of carpet football.

However, Rise and Shine kept the Pirates defence on their toes with the pace of Tlou Segolela and Rodney Ramagalela and they almost combined to good effect in the fifth minute, but Segolela’s cross failed to reach Ramagalela.

The Buccaneers started to settle down in the match as they started and came close to breaking the deadlock in the seventh minute when Mpho Makola’s pass almost sent Tendai Ndoro through.

In the 35th minute, Makola came agonisingly close to finding the back of the net, but his curler was parried away by goalkeeper George Chigova.

However, Luc Eymael’s men became better in the second stanza when Saluani Phiri blasted his effort over the bar, despite having time on his side in the 47th minute.

City managed to find the back of the net through Ramagalela in the 54th minute when he slotted home with ease after Makola was dispossessed in his own half.

The hosts responded swiftly by throwing numbers forward in attack and were rewarded two minutes later when Wome levelled the scoring after some poor defending by the visitors.

In the wake of the goal, Pirates moved forward in search of their second goal as Chigova was forced into making a number of saves to keep their opponents at bay.

In injury time, substitute Riyaad Norodien also came close to bagging a winner when his effort hit the woodwork in the 91st minute as Pirates failed to find a break through to go nine games in the league without victory.

On the other hand, the Polokwane-based side occupy the sixth spot with 25 points from 19 matches.

Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Wome 56′)

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Ramagalela 54′)

Pirates: Mhlongo, Gcaba, Jele, Nyauza, Phungwayo, Mobara, Manyisa (Sarr 82′), Makola, Memela (Memela 56′), Wome, Ndoro (Gabuza 67′)

City: Chigova, Semenya, Hlongwane, Tema, Tshilo, Phiri, Manaka, Jembula, Segolela, Maluleke, Ramagalela.

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