Orlando Pirates Reserves endured a frustrating morning as they were held by Magesi in their Diski Challenge encounter at Isak Steyl Stadium on Saturday. The game was marked by missed opportunities and moments of sloppy play, finishing in a 0-0 stalemate as neither side capitalised on their chances.
It was a historic encounter between the two teams meeting for the first time in the Reserve League. Both were coming off disappointing results, having each suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 season. Pirates conceded a chance just moments after the first whistle with a defensive error that went unpunished as the resultant attempt at goal fell wayward.
Opportunities were slow to come by at the other end for much of the opening quarter, with the visitors keeping things quiet in their defensive third.Bucs winger Seth Green managed to force a save off Magesi keeper Sechaba Khota in the 27th minute with a firmly-struck ball from out wide. The shot-stopper came up tops once more just after the half-hour mark, this time denying Simphiwe Masilela.
The hosts continued to grow into the game well into the dying minutes of the first period, but the team from Limpopo managed to exploit some lapses in concentration as they created a couple of chances against the run of play. Pirates keeper Khumoetsile Rathokolo was however equal to the task along with defender Nelson Ralenkoane, with the pair pulling off vital stops to keep things scoreless.
It was the Buccaneers who nearly had the final say ahead of the break when Gosiame Ngobeni was played through on goal, but only managed to force a save off Khota. Magesi were first to get a sniff at goal in the second half, but were not able to convert. Pirates hit back with two opportunities of their own, both falling to midfielder Cemran Dansin who could not find the decisive touch.
Second-half substitutes Junior Williams and Aphelele Nzimande quickly got into the action moments after being introduced after the hour mark. Williams drew a save from Khota from close range before Nzimande’s shot from a free kick struck the woodwork.
Mistakes at both ends led to more missed opportunities in the closing moments, with Magesi coming close after a defensive error by Green. The winger looked to make amends on attack and drew a save from Khota who followed it up with another stop to deny Siphamandla Msezane’s effort from the rebound.
Nzimande had a late attempt in injury time, but failed to breach the visitors’ defences with Khota standing between the Buccaneers and maximum points. Despite the home side’s late flurry, Magesi held firm to see out the contest with points shared in the end.
Pirates Reserves XI: Rathokolo, Ralenkoane, Sibiya, Mokone, Mohlala, Selepe, Dansin (Williams 64’), Masilela, Green, Ngobeni (Nzimande 64’), Msezane.
