Dominant Orlando Pirates fail to break Sekhukhune United resistance

Orlando Pirates were left frustrated after being held to a goalless draw by Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, a result that slowed their push back to the summit of the Betway Premiership.

The draw saw Pirates move level on points with table leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but they remained second on goal difference after failing to find a breakthrough in Polokwane. For Sekhukhune, the point reinforced their credentials as one of the league’s most organised top-four contenders.

With the pressure of returning to the top of the table weighing heavily, Pirates were forced into a controlled yet frustrating opening half by a resolute Babina Noko side determined to deny them rhythm. Sekhukhune sat compact, closed spaces quickly and slowed the tempo whenever Pirates attempted to accelerate play through midfield.

Much of the focus before kick-off centred on Pirates’ defensive reshuffle following the departure of vice-captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou opted to partner Lebone Seema alongside captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, trusting the pairing to provide a stable base behind an attack-minded midfield.

Further intrigue came from the team selection, with Bafana Bafana internationals Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis starting on the bench, while Sipho Mbule was omitted altogether.

Sekhukhune, under former Pirates coach Eric Tinkler, set out with clear counter-attacking intent. Experience and pace were prioritised, with Bradley Grobler leading the line alongside the speedy Bradley Mojela, ready to exploit any space left behind as Pirates pushed forward.

A lack of competitive football over the past month was evident in the opening exchanges, with both sides showing signs of rust. Pirates dominated possession, controlling around 60% of the ball and completing close to 90% of their passes, yet their territorial control rarely translated into clear chances.

They registered eight shots in the first half compared to Sekhukhune’s two and won seven corner kicks, but managed just two efforts on target.

Sekhukhune, by contrast, were content to absorb pressure, managing limited possession and failing to register a shot on target before the break. Their defensive organisation restricted Pirates to an expected goals tally of 0.57, only marginally higher than the hosts’ 0.24.

The clearest opening of the half arrived in the 41st minute when Sibisi rose to meet a corner, forcing goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner into a sharp save to preserve the stalemate.

The second half followed a similar pattern, even after Ouaddou introduced all five substitutions in search of a spark. Pirates continued to probe without conviction, while Leaner remained largely untroubled despite sustained pressure.

The biggest talking point arrived late on when Sekhukhune appealed for a penalty in the 86th minute after Seema appeared to handle the ball in the box, but the referee waved away the claims. Leaner then emerged as the hero in stoppage time, producing a decisive save to deny Kamogelo Sebelebele in the 92nd minute and secure a hard-earned point.

In the end, Sekhukhune’s discipline outweighed Pirates’ dominance, leaving the visitors to rue another missed opportunity in the title race.