Pirates Miss Top Spot as Asare Dazzles For City

Orlando Pirates © Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates missed a golden chance to top the Betway Premiership after being held to a 0-0 draw by Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers stayed in second place, unable to overtake Mamelodi Sundowns on goal difference. Pirates now head to Mbombela on May 23 to face Orbit College, where they will need maximum points to clinch the league title on the final day of the season.

City, meanwhile, remain firmly in the hunt for a top-eight finish. The Nedbank Cup champions sit eighth and will secure a playoff spot if they beat AmaZulu at home in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby showdown on May 23.

It was one-way traffic right from the first minute. The Buccaneers, desperately chasing a win, were constantly frustrated by City’s defence led by eventual Man of the Match Siphamandla Ncanana and goalkeeper Fedrick Asare, who was determined to impress with retiring keeper Darren Keet on the bench.

The Ghanaian shot-stopper produced two saves, denying Relebohile Mofokeng in the 26th minute and Thalente Mbatha in stoppage time, while City defenders bravely blocked several goal-bound shots. The score remained 0-0 at halftime.

Pirates continued to pile pressure on City, but Asare was in inspired form, producing two more excellent saves: first denying Mofokeng in the 53rd minute and then Oswin Appollis with 15 minutes left on the clock, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Asare came up with two more big saves in stoppage time, denying Mofokeng for the third time in the match and keeping out a late effort from substitute Tshepang Moremi. The game ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Pirates 0

City 0

Pirates: Chaine, Sebelebele, Sibisi, Seema, Hotto (Ndaba 81'), Selepe (Mariko 69'), Mbatha, Appollis, Maswanganyi (Moremi 68'), Mofokeng, Mbuthuma (Makgopa 38').

City: Asare, Mkhize, Poggenpoel, Mashego, Nodada, Ncanana, Jurgens, Jalai, Kamatuka (Sifumba 53'), Mokwena (Maarman 76' Mahlangu 90')

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