Three goals in the opening 12 minutes gave indication of an imminent goal deluge in the Premier Soccer League derby between old Soweto foes Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Wednesday night.
But while the action and effort persisted admirably to the end of the eventual 2-2 draw, the element of inspiration evaporated from the match on a steamy, sultry evening as the Birds let the Buccaneers off the hook after twice forging into the lead.
It was, nevertheless, a memorable display from 34 year-old Swallows defender Lovers Mohlala, who produced one of the goals of the season with a rasping 30m drive to open the score in the second minute.
Costly lapses in concentration prevented Swallows from gaining the three points that would have taken them to the top of the log alongside Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town. Former AmaZulu forager Bennet Chenene took advantage of one of these indiscretions to score Pirates’ first equalising goal in the sixth minute.
Swallows, however, were back in front through the irrepressible Lefa Tsutsulupa in the 12th minute and then missed a succession of opportunities to tie up the game before half-time — but the Birds were unlucky when Songwe Chalwe sold the Pirates defence a devastating dummy in the 28th minute and all but produced his team’s third goal.
The second period was a ding-dong, vacillating struggle, with Swallows again squandering chances to increase their lead and being punished in the process when a precise header from Tico-Tico Bucuane in the 52nd minute provided Pirates with their second equaliser.
Reinstated Pirates captain Benedict Vilakazi missed a golden opportunity of gaining a fortuitous victory for Pirates when he suffered the mortification of mis-kicking from point-blank range in the 84th minute.
But it was Swallows, regaining their momentum, who finished the stronger of the two teams, with Mohlala peppering their goal with a series of lengthy throw-ins. He was afterwards being declared man of the match. — Sapa