Orlando Pirates' Betway Premiership title hopes suffered a blow after a goalless draw with ten-man Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday night.
Betway Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch 0-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 11 March 2025
Venue: Athlone Stadium
Goodman Mosele made his first league start of the Buccaneers , who also had Nkosinathi Sibisi back from suspension while Stellies were without goalkeeper Sage Stephens and defender Ismaël Toure.
The visitors dominated possession in the early stages of the first half, with Mohua Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng seeing a lot of the ball although clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
The previous encounter between the two sides had a similar feel in the first half, although there was a lack of chances from both sides as they struggled with the final pass.
However, the momentum shifted with ten minutes left in the first period after Stellenbosch were reduced to ten men when Brian Onyango was shown a straight red card for bringing down Tshegofatso Mabasa as the last man.
Pirates nearly got the opener from the resultant free-kick, but Kabelo Dlamini saw his free-kick crash the woodwork as the first half ended all square.
The Buccaneers dominated possession in the early stages of the second period but still struggled to carve out chance, with Riveiro eventually deciding to throw on Patrick Maswanganyi for Dlamini on the hour mark.
The visitors did manage to carve out a chance on 15 minutes as a neat passing move ended with Mofokeng, who took one touch before seeing his powerful strike palmed away by Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
Pirates had the ball in the back of the net three minutes later when Deano van Rooyen picked out Mabasa, who headed home from close range, but the celebrations were cut short as the striker was in an offside position.
The Buccaneers, however, could not get past Masuluke in the latter stages and had to settle for a point, which leaves the side 18 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who they face on Sunday.
Stellenbosch FC: 30. Masuluke, 24. Moloisane, 2. Onyango, 16. Enyinnaya, 24. Basadien, 8. Nduli, 28. Palace, 15. Butsaka, 14. De Jong, 34. Titus, 9. Cupido
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 26. Mcaba, 11. Phili, 5. Lekoloane, 3. Mdaka, 19. Khiba, 27. Jabaar, 20. Barns, 7. Nku
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 5. Sibisi, 44. Mbokazi, 3. Van Rooyen, 7. Hotto, 8. Makhaula, 20. Mosele, 18. Dlamini, 33. Nkota, 38. Mofokeng, 9. Mabasa
Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 31. Rasebotja, 29. Mako, 28. Maswanganyi, 27. Xoki, 26. Shandu, 34. Ndlozi, 17. Makgopa, 15. Ndlondlo
