Orlando Pirates Reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Kaizer Chiefs as they kicked off their DStv Diski Challenge campaign with a Soweto Derby clash at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday.
The two rivals served up what turned out to be a fiercely contested showstopper to the season-opening festivities held in KwaMhlanga, with the Bucs Reserves sporting a number of new faces in their first starting lineup of the 2023/24 campaign.
They had no problems gelling early on, taking just five minutes to assert their dominance with winger Siphamandla Mdunge’s accurate curling shot tipped over the bar as he provided the game’s first shot at goal..
They made further forays into Chiefs’ half of the field, but without much in the way of shots at goal, with the hosts holding firm in defence.
This was until the 20th minute when Pirates drew first blood through striker Mehluleli Maphumulo, who received a long ball from deep and only needed two touches to guide the ball past goalkeeper Lungile Nkosi for the game’s opener.
The two sides traded half-chances at goal midway through the first half with neither keeper troubled, moments before Chiefs hit back with an equaliser from the boot of Donnay Jansen, who finished from just inside the box after some smart interplay in front of the Bucs’ goal.
The goal seemed to spur the home side on, as they came close through Omega Mdaka’s effort from close range which sailed wide of the target.
They continued to threaten and could have taken the lead on the stroke of halftime if it wasn’t for a brilliant headed clearance from defender Simphiwe Selepe, who intervened to keep out what looked like a certain goal.
The young Buccaneers began the second half as they started the first, as Lulama Nxumalo’s shot from a set piece was sent over the bar by Nkosi.
That was however the last of their chances for a huge chunk of the second period, with their Amakhosi counterparts finding their feet soon after.
The hosts had two quick chances through attackers Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala around the hour mark, but neither was able to hit the target.
The middle part of the second half was characterised by a physical battle in the middle of the part, with no side managing to conjure up a clear opportunity at goal.
Pirates did however finish the brighter of the two sides as replacement striker Mpumelelo Ndaba went one-on-one with Nkosi, who pulled off an excellent reflex save in the game’s dying moments.
The game’s last shot at goal came off the boot of another substitute in Bucs debutant Calvin Chibwe who showed excellent control to create space for himself inside the box before firing narrowly wide.
The final whistle sounded shortly after as the two Soweto Giants each walked away from the derby with a point apiece.
Pirates Reserves XI: Monyepao, Mbokazi, Sibiya, Mokone, Masemola, Molepo, Selepe, Nxumalo (Mazibuko 59’), Mdunge (Chibwe 81’), Nkota, Maphumulo (Ndaba 74’).
