A late goal by captain Dingane Masanabo earned Silver Stars a deserved 2-2 draw against defending Castle Premiership champions Orlando Pirates in a league clash played at the Mmbatho stadium on Sunday. Pirates led 1-0 at halftime.
The Buccaneers had a slight edge in an otherwise evenly fought first half. Stars keeper Johannes Diale did well to stop a blistering 25 metre free kick with a fine save at the expense of a corner in the seventh minute.
Bucs took the lead with a well taken goal in the 29th minute when Bheka Phakathi headed home an inch perfect cross from Joseph Makhanya to put the Buccaneers into a 1-0 lead.
Pirates veteran goalkeeper William Okpara denied Manqoba Mkhize an equaliser on 34 minutes when the big Nigerian did well to palm Mkhize’s free kick over his crossbar.
Stars’ early pressure in the second half paid off when they were awarded a penalty after defender Abednigo Netshiozwi was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area. Mkhize made no mistake from the penalty spot to level the score in the 54th minute.
Netshiozwi made up for his earlier blunder when he made it 2-1 in the 64th minute with a left-footed drive that Diale misjudged and allowed to slip through his hands and into the net.
But Stars were rewarded in the 85th minute when Masenabo headed home the equaliser to earn the PSL rookies a credible point from the champions. – Sapa