Posted on October 15, 2011 23:45
AmaZulu gained a valuable point away when they were held by hosts Orlando Pirates to a 0-0 draw in their Premiership match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
The draw sees the Durbanites, who are languishing in the bottom half of the log move their points tally to six after eight matches as the side achieved another steady performance under new coach Roger Palmgren, having beaten Ajax Cape Town 4-0 in their last game.
Pirates, the defending league champions, dropped more crucial points at home and are coming off a draw with Mamelodi Sundowns and losses to Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs respectively from their previous encounters.
Julio Leal's charges now have 11 points after eight games, and are slipping to the mid-table with a poor conversion rate of just six goals in the campaign while they have conceded five.
The match, particularly the first-half, was unspectacular as both sides struggled in the final half of the pitch with chances few and far between.
Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane had a first clear chance at goal in the 18th minute but took too long to shoot in the box as the defence closed down his shot.
Captain Lucky Lekgwathi found the back of the net moments with a header from a corner kick later but had his opportunity disallowed for a foul in the box.
Midfielder Andile Jali came closest when he rattled the bar with an ambitious long range effort midway with AmaZulu goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela beaten.
While the Buccaneers surged forward, Usuthu were more comfortable absorbing the pressure from the hosts with midfielder Sibusiso Hadebe coming close midway through the half for his effort inside the box to be blocked by an onrushing Pirates defence.
Their best chance came in the 65th minute from striker Ayanda Dlamini who saw his snap shot on the edge of the box sail over the post.
Pirates pressed forward again in search of an elusive winner with wingback Ruben Cloete's effort from outside the box easily saved by Mzimela.
Leal introduced strikers Benni McCarthy and Ndumiso Mabena for winger Sameehg Doutie and midfielder Isaac Chansa respectively, for the last 20 minutes of the match.
The duo made a sharp impact with immediate effect leading to questions of why they were not brought on earlier as the team looked blunt up front.
However, Mabena went on to fluff a header in the penalty box in the 76th minute after a good square pass on the left from Daine Klate.
McCarthy also fashioned a header inside the box with five minutes left that went harmlessly wide of goal