Orlando Pirates 1-1 Swallows FC: Courageous Birds fight back to hold Bucs in Soweto Derby
Ben Motshwari scored his first goal of the season, but it was not enough to earn the Buccaneers a victory
Swallows FC showed courage as they fought back to hold Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 in a PSL match which was played at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Ben Motshwari grabbed a late goal to hand the Buccaneers the lead, but Kamohelo Mahlatsi had other ideas as he netted in stoppage time.
The Buccaneers were targeting nothing but a victory after suffering their first defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns away last weekend.
Paseko Mako and Thabang Monare were recalled to the starting line-up as coach Josef Zinnbauer made two changes to the team which faced Sundowns.
Meanwhile, Swallows were hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the current season having edged out Cape Town City 3-2 at home in midweek.
Coach Brandon Truter made one change to the starting line-up which took on City with Fawaaz Basadien replacing Zaphaniah Mbokoma, who was sent off against the Citizens.
The Birds were the better side in the opening exchanges and they threatened first through Thabo Matlaba, whose long-range effort was well-save by Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.
Swallows were then forced to make an early change after former Pirates captain Matlaba picked up a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Sfiso Hlanti.
The visitors continued to attack and Ruzaigh Gamildien forced Sandilands into a fine diving save as the Birds pushed for the opening goal.
The Bucs defence was then caught napping when Hlanti delivered a quality cross into the box, but Gamildien's effort was brilliantly saved by Sandilands from close range.
Pirates improved towards the half-time break as they began keeping possession and linking up well in the opposition's half, with Motshwari pulling the strings in midfield.
However, Swallows keeper Virgil Vries made a smart save to deny Wayde Jooste at the near-post to ensure that the first-half ended with the two teams locked at 0-0.
Possession was shared evenly by the two teams after the restart, but the Birds looked more dangerous whenever they pushed forward.
Kgaogelo Sekgota's headed effort was blocked by Sandilands, who also came out to pull off a spectacular save to deny Gamildien in a one-on-situation.
Zinnbauer made a double substitution just after the hour-mark as he introduced an attack-minded duo of Frank Mhango and Siphesihle Ndlovu.
Pirates took control of the match towards the end of the game and Deon Hotto was sent through in goal, but Vries came out to deny his Namibia teammate from a one-on-one situation.
The Buccaneers thought they had snatched a late winning goal when Motshwari placed his effort into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Pirates with five minutes left.
However, they were denied a win by second-half substitute Mahlatsi, who scored for Swallows from close range in stoppage time to ensure that the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The result saw Swallows remain second on the league standings - two points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, while Pirates remained sixth on the log.
Pirates will be away to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Wednesday and Swallows are set to travel to Limpopo to face Baroka FC on Saturday.