Orlando Pirates couldn’t return to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after they played out a goalless draw with Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon.
Coming from the loss to Kaizer Chiefs before the international break, Pirates made three changes as Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Bandile Shandu returned to the starting XI and there’s a rare start for Collins Makgaka while Arrows recalled Mthokozisi Dube to play against his parent club.
The Buccaneers were determined from the set go as they took the game to Abafana Bes’thende in the opening exchanges with Fortune Makaringe coming close to finding the opener in the ninth minute but his effort came off post.
Lehlohonolo Seema’s men were quite content to break on the counter, thereby absorbing a whole lot of pressure from the visitors.
Arrows almost fell behind just before the break as Deon Hotto rattled the crossbar from a free-kick just outside the box.
Pirates kept struggling to break Seema’s men early in the second stanza and they had to make a double substitution after hour-mark, as Terrence Dzvukamanja replaced Makgaka and Ntsako Makhubela was introduced in place of Linda Mntambo in midfield.
Olisa Ndah nearly snatched the winner for the away side in the final quarter with a close-range header that went just wide after a delicious cross by Hotto.
Arrows were finding clear chances on transitions in the final minutes of the game but they couldn’t finish, as both sides settled for the share of the spoils at the Princess Magogo Stadium.