Orlando Pirates edged closer to Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Betway Premiership table thanks to Camren Dansin as the two sides drew 1-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.
The 20-year-old opened his senior account with a beautiful strike to pull the Buccaneers level in just his second start for the club’s first team.
Sundowns stay at the top of the table with 22 points from 11 games, while Pirates moved level with Kaizer Chiefs on points but edge their rivals on goal difference to claim third place with 19 points.
The Brazilians had to make do without Teboho Mokoena and Miguel Reisinho - who were serving suspensions - and Malibongwe Khoza, who is expected to return from an ankle injury soon.
Peter Shalulile kept his spot in the starting 11, while Iqraam Rayners came off the bench having not played since being withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad on 7 October due to medical reasons.
Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou opted to leave Bafana Bafana midfielders Patrick Maswanganyi, Thalente Mbatha and Sipho Mbule on the bench in favour of Sihle Nduli, Masindi Nemtajela and Dansin.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the chances in the opening stages, with Evidence Makgopa’s effort from the left of the box sailing narrowly over the bar in the 6th minute.
Sundowns had a chance to strike in the 14th minute as Aubrey Modiba found Shalulile open in the box. The striker could not get enough on his header to trouble Sipho Chaine in goal.
Shalulile found the back of the net four minutes later, handing the home side an early lead with his fifth goal of the season in all competitions. Arthur Sales squared the ball for the Namibian international, whose first effort was kept out by Chaine. However, the goalkeeper could not recover in time to block Shalulile’s second attempt, which crept past Seema on the goalline.
Pirates drew level in the 36th minute through Dansin, who bagged his first senior goal in spectacular fashion. Sundowns’ corner clearance fell to the 20-year-old at the edge of the area who hit it first time, producing a rocket of a volley which went in off of the underside of the crossbar.
The Buccaneers squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 50th minute as Lebone Seema found himself one-on-one with Williams, having all the time in the world. The defender attempt to beat Williams at the near post but was denied.
Shalulile came close to a second goal in the 55th minute as Khuliso Mudau slipped him the ball in the box, but Sihle Nduli bravely stepped across to block his effort.
In the 73rd minute, Oswin Appollis broke on the counter after winning the ball in midfield. The winger picked out Tshepang Moremi, who fired a shot from just outsude the area but could not beat Williams.
Both teams are back in Betway Premiership action on Wednesday as Sundowns will return to Loftus to face TS Galaxy, while Pirates will travel to the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Durban to face Lamotville Golden Arrows.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Shalulile 20’)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Dansin 35’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, B. Aubaas (S. Mkhulise 79’), G. Kekana, K. Cupido, A. Modiba (F. Basadien 78’), M. Allende, K. Mudau, T. Matthews, N. Santos, A. Sales (J. Adams 57’), P. Shalulile (I. Rayners 78’)
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, L. Seema, M. Mbokazi, T. Lebitso, D. Hotto, S. Nduli, C. Dansin (P. Maswanganyi 60’), M. Nemtajela, O. Appollis (S. Kwayiba 87’) , T. Moremi, E. Makgopa (Y. Mbuthuma 60’)
