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Mamelodi Sundowns 0 - Orlando Pirates 0
A week of serious review awaits the Premier Soccer League (PSL), which will investigate the nasty off-the-pitch events that overshadowed the epic Absa Premiership clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates yesterday.
What could have potentially been a show of free-flowing and entertaining football by arguably the Premiership’s most tactically and technically astute sides, endowed with highly gifted players, turned into a display of scuffles.
The pushing and shoving started the moment the Pirates players alighted from their team bus a few hours before kick-off, when the club’s security had a go at their PSL counterparts heading towards the dressing rooms.
It did not end there as a hot-headed fan dressed in Sundowns regalia accosted Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena, who is a former member of the Sundowns technical team, midway into the opening half.
This led to an additional nine minutes being played at the end of the first half.
Prior to the melee, the display on the pitch by the two sides was filled with promise.
There was an early exchange of firepower, with Sundowns the first to taste the waters through Jeremy Brockie who, with a trademark volley, saw his effort sailing wide after the New Zealander had connected a crisp pass from Andile Jali.
However, the party was soon over for the in-form Jali, who was carried out on a stretcher with a suspected pulled muscle 10 minutes into the game and replaced by Tiyani Mabunda.
The impact of the forced change was evident as Mabunda did not offer the same mobility as Jali, and Pirates exploited the gap to breach the Sundowns midfield.
It was not surprising that the Bucs had the better sniff at goal, their attack having been powered by the pace of Thembinkosi Lorch and Justin Shonga, with Thabiso Kutumela always making timely runs emerging from the centre.
The Sundowns rearguard, marshalled by Ricardo Nascimento, had their work cut out for them and were often forced to put their bodies on the line to block a series of long-range shots.
In contrast, the Pirates backline had little to do with Brockie already in their backpocket, while Gastón Sirino was not at his best yesterday. His off-day was exacerbated by instances of dirty play that later earned him a caution from referee Daniel Bennett.
Prompted by his side’s lack of punch upfront, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane unleashed Phakamani Mahlambi to inject new energy on the strike-force.
And the former Al Ahly striker made an immediate impact as Bucs goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane had to turn his shot around the post for a corner with his first touch a few seconds after he had replaced Brockie on the hour mark.
Not to be outdone by his equally tactically astute counterpart, Bucs coach Milutin Sredojevic countered with the introduction of Augustine Mulenga for the tiring Kutumela.
The closing stages gave the capacity crowd, with Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter also in attendance, the opportunity to witness a nerve-wracking finale, but none of the opposing sets of defenders – as well as goalkeepers Denis Onyango and Mpontshane –refused to give in under pressure.
In the end, a point apiece was worth the shift put on by the two former African club champions, even though Thapelo Morena could have won it for Sundowns had the full-back not been indecisive inside the penalty box.
A Pirates win would not only have extended the Buccaneers’ lead at the top, but the result could have given a brilliant send-off to the legendary Oscar “Jazzman” Dlamini, who passed away this week.
Dlamini, who was part of the all-conquering Bucs team of 1973, was buried yesterday.
Meanwhile, another epic fixture awaits Pirates as they face Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout semifinals in Durban on November 24 before Sredojevic’s side meet Light Stars of the Seychelles in their opening CAF Champions League fixture a few days later.
Similarly, Sundowns – who remain the only unbeaten side in the Premiership so far – will also be competing in the premier continental club competition.
The Brazilians have been drawn against Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea.
